On Saturday, May 24th, at approximately 9:40 a.m., the PCSO ECC received a 911 call concerning a motorcycle accident with injuries on Green Pond Road, close to San Juan Avenue in Polk City. A group of motorcycles, led by a 72-year-old man from Mascotte, FL, riding a Harley Davidson, was heading westbound on Green Pond Rd. As the lead motorcycle approached a right curve, it veered over the center line into the eastbound lane. Concurrently, another group of motorcycles was traveling eastbound, and the lead bike (a Ducati) in that group was struck by the 72-year-old, resulting in both riders being ejected from their bikes.
First responders arrived on the scene to find witnesses performing CPR on the 72-year-old, which continued as he was transported by Polk Fire Rescue to a local hospital. Unfortunately, despite life-saving efforts, he did not survive his injuries and was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The Ducati rider, a 61-year-old man from Tampa, sustained broken bones and a collapsed lung and is currently hospitalized.