ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – A man and a woman riding on a motorcycle were killed Thursday night in Mayport when a van turned left into their path, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Troopers identified the two people on the motorcycle as Kasey Whilden, 24, of Eustis, and Jennifer Reed, 42, of Jacksonville.
Troopers said the motorcycle was headed south on Mayport Road at 7:48 p.m. when it struck the passenger side of a van that was turning left onto West 10th Street.
Neither person on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet, according to FHP.
"It looked bad," said Matt Davison, who lives down the street from the scene of the crash. "There were just a ton of cops and ambulances and police cars and the road was blocked off."
The van's driver, 74-year-old Eugene Long, suffered minor injuries and his wife, 74-year-old Mary Long, was critically injured, troopers said. They were both taken to UF Health.
As of Friday afternoon, Mary Long remained in critical condition at the hospital.
Buddy Hale, who works nearby and is also a motorcycle rider, helped clean up the debris from the crash.
"I got a call this morning that something happened in front of our shop and you feel like I could have easily been that person," Hale said.
Hale and Davison both believe it's a dangerous intersection, saying it's a busy spot where a lot of drivers try to make U-turns.
"We just want people to be safe," Hale said.
According to the FHP report, charges are pending.