A Keys bicyclist rode into the path of an SUV in a deadly U.S. 1 collision, police say
A 55-year-old Florida Keys woman died from her injuries after she was struck by an SUV on U.S. 1 over the weekend. Another bike crash sent a rider to a Miami hospital.
At 12: 21 p.m. Saturday, Jacqueline Ann Collins, of Marathon, was riding a cruiser east on U.S. 1 at mile marker 52.
She was leaving the center median when police said “for unknown reasons,” she crossed the northbound lanes into the path of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by 16-year-old Kevin Garcia, of Marathon.
The Equinox was headed north in the right outside lane. Its front end struck Collins’ right side, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Collins was not wearing a helmet, FHP said.
Garcia, who was not injured, had a passenger, 15-year-old Michael Dieguez, with him, police said.
Collins was airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center in serious but stable condition.
She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Both northbound lanes were closed for about 30 minutes. The right outside northbound lane was closed for about one hour.
Collins came to a rest in the right outside lane, police said.
This was the 16th fatality that FHP has handled this year.
Another bicyclist was seriously injured Sunday night on Big Pine Key due to the bike rider not having proper lights for nighttime use, FHP said.
FHP said Joseph Ferrante, 37, of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, at about 8 p.m. was headed south in the left-turn lane at mile marker 30.
He went to cross U.S. 1 toward the right shoulder when the driver of a Nissan Altima, which was headed north, struck the rear of the bike with the car’s front end, police said.
Ferrante was airlifted to Jackson South and listed in serious but stable condition, FHP spokeswoman Lt. Kathleen McKinney said Sunday.
He did not have proper lights on his bike and the Nissan’s driver, 74-year-old Morris E. Emerick, of Shelbyville, Indiana, couldn’t see the bike crossing the road.
Ferrante landed west of where the crash happened and slid several feet on his chest and head before coming to stop. He was not wearing a helmet, FHP said.
Emerick had a passenger, 70-year-old Jayne E. Emerick, also of Shelbyville, Indiana, with him.
The southbound lane of U.S. 1 at mile marker 30 was closed for about two hours.
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 1:25 PM.
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