Strange

Regions Bank customer drives into path of motorcyclist

by billlollar | November 4, 2009 at 08:43 am

193 views | 56 Recommendations | 10 comments

A customer at a Regions Bank branch near University Mall in north Pensacola completed his drive-through bank transaction and pulled forward to check traffic on East Burgess Road. Photographs seem to indicate that the driver intended to turn left out of the bank's driveway in order to proceed west on Burgess.

To be fair to the bank customer, an empty lot sits adjacent to bank property with trees and brush growing right up to the curb and obscuring the view of drivers trying to assess traffic coming from the left. The automobile driver failed to see a flourescent yellow motorcycle was coming his way and the two vehicles collided head-on, throwing the cyclist 20-30 feet onto the pavement.

It is not known whether the rider was wearing a helmet or the extent of his injuries. The accident occurred approximately 1:30 pm on October 30, 2009.

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sara star

flagged this story as Eyewitness Report

at 09:03 on November 4th, 2009

This is an eyewitness report from the NowPublic member billlollar who was on the scene.

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sara star

at 09:07 on November 4th, 2009

Not a good hair day!

At first it seems the car was totally out to lunch, not to see flourescent yellow! But I am glad you balanced the story with investigative prowess, and mentioned that his view was obstructed by bushes... and I wonder how fast the bike was going?

The car didn't hit the motorbike, quite the opposite.

Still the car shouldn't have been turning left if his view was obstructed.

billlollar

at 18:03 on November 6th, 2009

Thanks, Sara. My wife and I made a deposit in the same bank drive-through today and we took notice of how difficult it was to see oncoming traffic from the left. You literally have to inch out into the traffic lane to get a clear view that, depending on the speed of the approaching vehicle, could have disastrous consequences. I have no idea how fast that bike was moving.

Jordan Yerman

at 10:58 on November 4th, 2009

If the rider was thrown more than 20 feet, unless he was wearing full ballistics, I'd predict his or her injuries to be... bad. Even with ballistics, I wouldn't want that to be me. How fast was the bike moving relative to other traffic?

billlollar

at 18:05 on November 6th, 2009

The biker was wearing street clothes and didn't appear to be moving when I first arrived at the scene. Ten minutes later, when I returned with my camera, the ambulance was departing the scene with him aboard. Not sure about his speed at impact.

Amy Judd

at 14:54 on November 4th, 2009

Thank you for this report!

albertacowpoke

at 15:30 on November 4th, 2009

That would be an oops. Any word on the biker?

Jordan Yerman

at 15:35 on November 4th, 2009

I predict the phrase "he just came out of nowhere, officer" will figure into the police report.

Paschen

at 15:42 on November 4th, 2009

The biker colours can hardly be ignored. 20 feet? That would in deed be cause for some serious injuries if not worth.

Rory Cripps

at 16:55 on November 4th, 2009

There's a major problem here, in Florida, with crotch-rockets and those that drive them.

Watch Out For Motorcycles . . .They're Everywhere! So says the ubiquitous bumper sticker!

To that I say: Watch Out For Cars . . . They're Everywhere!

billlollar

at 18:08 on November 6th, 2009

For the past couple of days, I have been leaving messages for Lt. Preston, Public Affairs liaison with the local Florida Highway Patrol in order to get details for a follow-up story. No response! I genuinely hope the biker is alive and recovering from his injuries.