Georgia motorcyclist dies in crash in Panama City Beach area during Thunder Beach weekend

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·2 min read

PANAMA CITY BEACH — One motorcyclist is dead following a fiery traffic crash during the weekend in the Panama City Beach area.

The crash occurred about 11:30 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Silver Sands Road and Thomas Drive, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The motorcyclist died from his injuries, while the other driver was charged with DUI.

FHP reported that the unnamed 47-year-old motorcyclist from Douglasville, Georgia, was traveling south on Silver Sands Road on a 2014 Harley-Davidson and turned left onto Thomas Drive and into the path of a 2015 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 47-year-old woman from Senioa, Georgia.

"The front of the Jeep struck the side of the motorcycle, (and) the driver of the motorcycle was thrown from the motorcycle and hit the pavement," the FHP reported. "Due to the collision, both vehicles became engulfed in flames."

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The motorcyclist was transported in critical condition to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The Jeep's driver, who sustained only minor injuries, was arrested and charged with a DUI. She was traveling with a 32-year-old passenger from Forest Park, Georgia.

According to Lt. Jason King of the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers had not confirmed as of Monday morning if the motorcyclist was in town for Panama City Beach's 24th annual Thunder Beach Spring Rally, a five-day motorcycle-themed event that ended Sunday.

King also did not know the Jeep driver's blood-alcohol level.

"Even if you're not the at-fault driver, you can be arrested for a DUI crash, or a DUI nonetheless," he said. "We just encourage our citizens and our visitors (to) have a plan. ... If you're going to drink, have the wherewithal to make a good decision (on how to) get to your hotel or your next destination safely."

He described the incident as being in the "the wrong place (at the) wrong time."

"I don't know that based on the information we have right now (that) there was anything specifically she could have done to avoid the crash, other than knowing that she was intoxicated and (should not) get behind the wheel," King said.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Motorcycle crash in Panama City Beach area kills Georgia motorcyclist