TRUCK HITS AND KILLS BICYCLIST ON U.S. 1 IN ISLAMORADA

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

The Upper Keys witnessed its second fatal accident in a span of a week on the evening of Feb. 17, when a truck hit and killed a bicyclist near Snake Creek Bridge in Islamorada.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 59-year-old man riding an electric motorized bike was traveling north on the east side of U.S. 1. A pickup truck was heading south on U.S. 1 approaching the electric bike on the south end of Snake Creek Bridge.

According to an accident report, the bicyclist began to head northwest across U.S. 1, entering the southbound lane and into the pickup truck’s path. As a result, the pickup truck, driven by a 70-year-old man, struck the right side of the electric bike. The man on the bike, who wasn’t identified, died of his injuries, according to FHP.

U.S. 1 lanes were shut down as EMS arrived on scene to render aid while law enforcement investigated what caused the crash. Heavy traffic backups lasted throughout the evening as vehicles rode past the scene on the highway’s shoulders.

FHP said it’s unknown whether alcohol was a factor in the crash. FHP said charges are still pending.

Four days before, on Feb. 13, a state trooper driving south on U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 98 struck and killed a female pedestrian who was attempting to cross the highway. Southbound lanes were closed for a majority of the afternoon as FHP investigated. The names of the trooper and the female involved in the crash haven’t been released. That investigation continues.