JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State troopers, firefighters and paramedics say at least six people were hurt -- four seriously -- when nine motorcycles, a car and two tractor-trailers were involved in a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 95 at midday Saturday.
A trooper at the scene told Channel 4 that the motorcyclists were taken to three area hospitals, but none off the injuries were life-threatening. Late Saturday night when the FHP report came out, two of the injured riders were still unidentified.
The crash happened just before 11:30 a.m. on I-95 North in between J. Turner Butler Boulevard and Baymeadows Road during a group motorcycle ride.
Northbound traffic was backed up for miles until the accident was cleared and lanes reopened about 2:30 p.m.
Investigators said there was an initial crash involving three motorcycles participating in a group ride. When a Hyundai showed to a stop to avoid hitting that crash, one motorcycle rear-ended the car, ejecting its rider, and another motorcycle hit that bike.
When two tractor-trailers then came to a stop to avoid the pile-up ahead, a motorcycle hit the second of the big rigs and another motorcyclist lost control of his bike and was ejected.
Troopers say two other motorcyclists crashed behind the stopped tractor-trailers, and they were still investigating how that accident occurred.
Members of the Ruff Ryders Motorcycle Club said about 150 motorcycles were participating in a memorial ride for one of their members, Ernest "Phantom" Jones, who died in a car crash last week.
Romaro Worth was one of the motorcyclists taking part in the ride.
"Cars were coming in at that I-95 and Bowden Road exit," said Romaro. "They were coming over that hill they probably didn't see the motorcycles until it was too late."
The FHP reports says its investigating was continuing and charges are pending.