110 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
386-734-4622
BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Crash scene — Steve Poelcher checks the scene on South Woodland Boulevard, where his partner, Belinda Willis, was injured in a motorcycle crash today, March 1. Witnesses said a sedan pulled into Willis' path.
Neither involved life-threatening injuries, police said
posted Mar 1, 2013 - 6:17:10pm
Motorcycles were involved in two crashes in DeLand today, March 1, but neither resulted in life-threatening injuries, according to DeLand Police.
West Volusia, like much of Florida, is seeing more motorcycles on the roads as the annual Bike Week pilgrimage approaches.
DeLand Deputy Police Chief Gary Batten said there were no injuries at all in one crash, and the other crash caused injuries that were not life-threatening.
The crash with injuries was a collision between a Harley-Davidson ridden by Belinda Willis and a blue sedan that occurred at about 3 p.m. in the 700 block of South Woodland Boulevard. The name of the sedan driver was unknown today, because the officer's crash report had not yet been filed.
Witnesses said Willis had just left Jerry's Body Shop at 528 S. Woodland Blvd., when the sedan pulled into her path from Winnemissett Avenue.
Co-workers at Jerry's Body Shop, where Willis' partner, Steve Poelcher, has worked for 19 years, said Poelcher went outside when he heard sirens shortly after Willis' departure from the shop. On the Boulevard, he could see that it was her Harley involved in the crash just two blocks away, they said.
The extent of Willis' injuries is unknown. Poelcher's co-workers said Poelcher jumped on his own Harley-Davidson and headed to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where Willis had been taken by ambulance.
The couple are longtime motorcycle enthusiasts, said Jerry Doyle, owner of Jerry's Body Shop.
The crash closed the southbound lane of Woodland Boulevard for a time this afternoon.
West Volusia's big biker influx will come Saturday, March 9, when the MainStreet DeLand Association hosts the ninth annual DeLand Bike Rally in Downtown DeLand, featuring live music, a Harley-Davidson giveaway sponsored by Yuengling Lager, vendors and more.
On that day, Woodland Boulevard and some side streets will be closed in Downtown DeLand, as bikers converge on the city.
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What would Charles Darwin think of motorcycles?
My Heart does go out to fellow riders that get hurt or even pass on.
last Monday I rode 137 miles on my intruder 1500 lid on, pipes humming. Epic ride on I-75 and I-4 before heading home to Davenport.
It seems that when your out riding mindfuly, watching and anticipating traffic. Moments of Zen seem to manifiest themselves.
Well it seems that I am rambling. My prayer is that the Spirit of the living God Watch over all of us who choose to live in the wind. My God's Grace prepare the road and may the Angels of the lord ride ahead securing our path, and safe return home.(Everytime we Ride)
God Bless us all. Take care and long may you ride. GAG
The real reason we motorcyclists ride near the center line is for visibility. It's easier for oncoming traffic to see you rather than being behind the center of a car. If you had taken an MSF class you would know this. I don't disagree about the oil build up in the center of the lane but that usually isn't an issue until it rains. And as a rider I will agree that there are some riders that are out of control but it's rarely the folks on the Harley's or big cruisers.
Bike Week is a big money maker for the state and will be around for many more years to come. If you don't like it take a road trip north. Most of us riders don't like Snowbirds but we tolerate them for 4-5 months every year.
I have been HERE in Fla for 21 yrs.
Been alive for 54
As for staggering.....read it again, I'm not talking about front to back.....I'm talking about ABREAST and either one hugging the line closest to the next lane of traffic.
What would you rather get your foot peg " clipped" by, your motorcycle buddy or the car who couldn't care less about you ?
Again yesterday, going east on 92, the rider. ( alone), was in the right lane but hugging the center line between lanes.
I ask, doesn't it make more sense to hug the shoulder as opposed to staying so close to the vehicle that is 5 times your size ?
Also, when two riders are abreast in one lane, doesn't it make more sense for both to try to stay as far AWAY from cars as possible ?
21 years here, and I can't figure out why they want to attempt to force automobiles to avoid them while simply traversing the roads.
Bike Week is coming......let's see which vehicle & persons win the battle of motorcycle vs. automobile.
Common sense seems to be lost.......put your seat-belt on to save lives but no helmet is fine.
Yes, I used to ride, until I was run over & wore a long leg cast for a year. It made more sense to wrap metal around me.
STAY IN YOUR LANE !!!!!!
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