EAST PALATKA, Fla. – A 45-year-old man was killed early Monday morning in a crash of a motorcycle and a tractor-trailer on State Road 207 at Stone Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers later identified the rider as Patrick Melvin of Satsuma. He was wearing a helmet, according to the FHP report.
FHP Cpl. Justin Rountree said both the big rig and the motorcycle were going north on 207 about 7:20 a.m. when the trucker, 43-year-old Donald Gross, attempted to make a U-turn.
"The motorcycle did attempt to avoid the collision, but was unsuccessful," Rountree said.
There was fog in the area at the time, but troopers didn't know if that, speed or other factors contributed to the crash. A business in the area told News4Jax that the tractor-trailer was headed there when it was hit by the motorcycle.
The FHP report said charges are pending in the crash.
All southbound lanes of SR 207 remained closed through noon while the accident was investigated and cleared. One northbound lane was initially closed, but reopened by midmorning.