Man takes Harley-Davidson dealership motorcycle on test drive and crashes to death
A man’s test drive of a Harley-Davison motorcycle at a Florida dealership ended tragically.
Richard Peach, 68, took a 2014 motorcycle on a drive within the Titus Landing parking area when he ‘lost control, and crashed into the rear exterior wall of an unoccupied shopping venue’, stated the Titusville Police Department.
Police responded to the Miracle City Harley-Davidson dealership around 4.15pm on Monday and rushed Peach to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than a half-hour later.
Peach, of Cocoa, was wearing a helmet, according to a preliminary investigation. His Florida state driver’s license had a motorcycle endorsement.
‘Initial evidence revealed speed was a factor in the crash,’ stated the police department on Tuesday.
No other vehicles or people were involved in the crash on the 2400 block of South Hopkins Avenue.
An investigation into the crash continues.
A witness working in the area, Christopher Maglione, said the victim was driving ‘the wrong way’ and appeared to be going 50 miles per hour.
‘I’m incredibly shocked,’ Maglione told FOX 35. ‘I’ve never heard of anything like that happening in this plaza before ever.’
A motorcyclist who identified himself as Kenny told the TV station that ‘there’s no protection’ when riding a bike.
‘If somebody bumps you in a car, you get a dent in a door,’ he said. ‘They bump you on this thing, you probably lose a leg.’
Titusville is about 40 miles east of Orlando, along the coastline.
Despite the dangers of motorcycling, many in the community remain diehard riders.
In 2019, a couple, Justin Reid and Victoria Hemenes, held a biker-themed wedding in Kyburz, California, even though they had totaled their Harley-Davison and suffered major injuries weeks prior.
‘Victoria had been into bikes before but I have been a bike enthusiast for quite a few years now,’ said Justin.
‘When we decided to get married, I knew I wanted a biker-themed wedding. We didn’t want a normal wedding.’
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