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Motorcyclist Dies In Beulah Crash
October 27, 2017
A Milton man died in motorcycle crash late Friday morning in Beulah.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 73-year old James Elliott of Loxley was driving a 2016 Hyundai Sonata stopped at stop sign on Bridlewood Road facing south toward Nine Mile Road when he pulled into the intersection and collided with a 2005 Honda motorcycle driven by 23-year old Josef Martens of Milton.
Martens will pronounced deceased at the scene of the 11:58 a.m. crash. Elliot was not injured.
Any charges in the accident are pending the outcome of a FHP traffic homicide investigation.
Comments
24 Responses to “Motorcyclist Dies In Beulah Crash”
These types of accidents should result in a negligent homicide charge for the other driver. Age doesn’t matter, but someone needs to hold driver’s responsible for their actions. Clearly, this person pulled directly in front of another person, after being stopped, so negligence is present. I also believe that driver’s licenses should be harder to obtain and maintain. Countless driver’s these days have no clue how to drive and think of only themselves: pulling out in front of people, blocking the left lane from faster traffic, switching lanes and braking to turn in front of vehicles, not yielding the right of way in merge lanes, etc.
Herein is proof positive that one does not have to have relevant knowledge to have an opinion, make a judgment, or convict someone.
If the FHP has not reached a conclusion and is investigating, what gives anyone else the ability to do so by reading Northescambia’s account? Divine knowledge?
Apparently not many of you all know about that intersection. It could have happened to anyone and has happened to alot over the years along with alot of close calls. People who use that intersection enough long enough will be able to tell you maybe it’s the way the sun or something shines but sometimes no matter how many times you look you won’t see it until it’s there.
There are quite a few moronic statements on here. Look twice should be the norm but it doesn’t change the fact that motorcycles are not easily seen. Murdercycles/donorcycles are the nicknames that are always thrown around in the ER, and for good reason. I am a lifelong rider and will always have a stable of bikes in the garage regardless of the danger. I take a risk every time I hit the road , I know and embrace it. We are practically invisible behind an A pillar on a car, so quit bitching about everyone else not looking twice. We know the dangers and still ride. As for the crotch rocket comment not going the speed limit, that’s like me saying that all people steal after getting robbed. Idiots.
Younger drivers cause more accidents than older drivers. Whrmen isctge last time you saw a crotch rocket doing the speed limit?
Age is usually not the only factor. Not paying attention is. Drivers are not educated the way they once were. Add that to the numerous distractions we now have along with so many more cars on the road – it will only get worse. I would easily agree to being fully tested every 4 years except that the fees would be ridiculous. I also feel that before someone can take off in an RV over a certain length, there should be a special license. Commercial drivers have to have special testing, motorcycle riders have to have it, school bus drivers have to have it but not someone driving a huge bus/box for enjoyment. There are no easy solutions.
Age doesn’t always indicate bad driving. I recently was in an accident caused by the other driver who was late 30’s, and I am 32. My vehicle was totaled from the crash. It can happen at any age.
Those making comments about the age of the man need to remember what they wrote should they be lucky enough to live into their 70’s. By then every engine on the road will be self driven and they can sit like couch potatoes, the sport of driving will be gone. The man was enjoying his life to the last minute! God bless his family. he is in better hands.
@ Citizen
I totally agree with you.
Many people make emotional statements and don’t even think about accidents occur.
I lost a precious loved one who was a passager with a friend driving.
Never once did my family think or say an unkind word to the other family
We prayed for them during our loss.
You don’t have to be 70 to pull out in front of someone. I can’t count how many times younger people have pulled out in front of me. Whether it’s they got tired of waiting on me to get there or they looked both ways then looked at their phone without looking both ways again – there are a thousand reasons why they do it. I’m not 70 but I’ll promise that when anyone comments that people over 70 need to go through additional road testing or whatever, when you get 70 you’ll probably complain that you have to do it.
This is so tragic. Friday morning, it was still dark, I was leaving Wal-Mart. When I went to pull out I saw the traffic was clear, I was about to go and a motorcycle went by. I did not notice it because he blended in with all the other lights, street lights, businesses lights etc. Had he been a few feet behind, I would have pulled out and he probably would have hit my car. I do look twice but sometimes accidents happen. It is very risky riding motorcycles. I just hope they’re worth it.
I get the concerns over the age of the driver – but the reality is every age runs over motorcycles because they aren’t watching the road. Pulling out in front of a bike is one of the top causes of accidents. My condolences to the family and to the driver, who surely is devastated.
I have seen more so called younger drivers rolling through stop signs on two lane roads without paying any attention to the fact that someone may be passing a vehicle. This comes back to the fact that people are supposed to look both ways before entering a road. Don’t blame this on the fact that the gentleman was older. There are plenty of other drivers that are guilty of this exact same thing.
Well my condoléances. to the family i lost a near and dear friend of mine in a motorcycle accident a few months ago and it was because a young lady was texting and not paying attention ans was getting over on him and he made evasive ation to keep her from hitting him but when he went to try to hit the exit a van was turning and he hit it and it killed him and he knew how to ride watch out for people on motorcycles stay off your phones please rip T I
Horrible tragedy and as often is the case the motorcyclist pays the price. In this case age may have been a factor but there have been many other instances where drivers are much younger with similar results. Daily witness younger drivers on phones texting, applying make-up, reading etc., there are or can be many factors for inattention to driving and these instances should make us ALL take a look at our driving habits.
He will get a 160.00 dollar fine for careless driving, probably nothing more. Sure, he will always have bad memories from this terrible accident. I know accidents happen but when are the law makers going to make people start paying a real price for pulling out in front of motorcycles? People are not gonna start looking for motorcycles until the lawmakers impose real penalties like prison or jail time for killing them. So sad…
WATCH FOR MOTORCYCLES!! Check Twice!
I am 76 and consider myself a better driver that many younger people. I pay attention to my things around me, do not text, do not talk on the phone and have 20/20 vision. Often I see people much younger making decisions that could result in serious accidents. What has not been said is the speed of the motorcycle. More often than not they are riding well above the speed limit. Don’t lump all of the older people into one group. We are many times safer than you younger drivers.
70 is not a date specific time to stop driving a car/truck. A motorcycle does present
additional difficulties regarding balance, weight of motorcycle , gear shifting , ability
to hear and reduced reaction time. Now add diminished eye sight and you end up with very good reasons to give-up our beloved (Bikes ). Natural obstacles ( huge
Mail box’s) other vehicles etc. can and does affect seeing an oncoming object even
if you’re not on a motorcycle and you’re entering their roadway. We all think we’re
the worlds greatest drivers ( cars & trucks included) but ours roads are slam full of
vehicles and many of them ain’t payin attention. Another little problem…..does everyone have LED headlights now ? All on high beam ?
Accidents happen.
The comment about people in their 70’s driving are misinformed about the ability of drivers at that age, people are able to drive safely much older than that. Statistics show older drivers are actually more safe than many because they usually obey the speed limits and do not allow distractions as much as younger drivers. They seldom talk on the phone nor text nor eat while driving. They generally are more law abiding and do not drive intoxicated as much nor take as many risks as younger drivers, especially males. They generally do not drive aggressively and follow the rules of the road. They often drive in silence rather than had loud music drowning out important sounds around them.
And I am sorry for the young man who lost his life and condolences to the family on the motorcycle. But it is also a fact, that yes accidents do happen but when some one is a on a mototcycle, they have NO protection and crashes are more often than not fatal.
One takes a very big risk to go into traffic on a motorcycle. Your body is essentially unprotected and as we see on here, people run into each other every day. It is a given.
Everyone should have to take the test at least every four years. Also, if u renew by mail, how come u have to take an eye test in person? They aren’t checking ur eyes thru the mail. Alot can change in a short period of time. So sad for the family that lost their loved one. Love and prayers
If you are over 70 years old – there should be a law to require a driving test before any license is renewed. But the State is too lazy to provide FHP officers or driver examiners to grade the test takers. But second thought, who would want to ride with the old drivers anyway? So this is what you have – old people that can’t drive with slow reflexes, can’t see 5 feet in front of them. They can be stopped and watching for traffic, and before they decide to go 30 seconds later, another car has approached. BAM, ran into someone. I will be old one day, but I guarantee you I will stop driving before I kill some innocent person or myself.
This makes me so angry. It only takes a second to look to make sure no one else is coming before you pull out in front of them! This may have been an accident, but it’s completely avoidable. Look twice! Not just for other vehicles and not just for motorcycles but for anything!!!
Condolences to the family of the motorcyclist.
Florida doesn’t impose any additional requirements for drivers licenses until age 80; and then it’s only a vision test. Elderly drivers should be required to complete a full driving and vision test annually after age 70.