Witnesses claim a motorcyclist was speeding prior to a fatal crash which shut down U.S. Hwy. 27 in Lake County.
The 31-year-old Davenport man was riding a 2017 Suzuki motorcycle at 5:10 p.m. Friday northbound on U.S. Hwy. 27 approaching Schofield Road in Clermont when a 72-year-old Orlando man driving a 2020 Lexus RX, who was southbound on U.S. Hwy. 27, made a left turn onto Schofield Road, according to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The Lexus turned into the direct path of the motorcycle.
When the vehicles collided, the motorcyclist was thrown from the bike and landed in the northbound lane of U.S. Hwy. 27. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been wearing a helmet, the report noted.
“Multiple witnesses” told FHP traffic homicide investigators that the motorcyclist had been traveling above the posted speed limit.
Two passengers in the Lexus, a 43-year-old woman and a 63-year-old woman, both from Orlando, suffered minor injuries. They were treated at South Lake Hospital.
All northbound lanes and one southbound lane of U.S. Hwy. 27 at Schofield Road were blocked for the investigation into the crash.
