Cyclist hit by car remains in critical condition

St. Johns County deputy examines bicycle that was hit by car

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol has identified the bicyclist who was hit by a car late Friday afternoon on U.S. 1 south of State Road 312.

Richard Craig Layman, 51, remains in critical condition at UF Health Jacksonville on Monday.

The FHP told Channel 4 that Layman was riding north in the bike or U.S. 1 south of State Road 312 lane when a red Dodge pickup truck turned onto the side street.

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"The bicyclist took evasive action and veered into the right, southbound lane of U.S. 1, into the direct path of the Nissan Cube," said FHP Sgt. Joel Johnson. "The Nissan Cube struck the bicycle and bicyclist and they came to a final rest in the median there."

FHP said the bicyclist was riding against traffic, which is against the law in the state of Florida.

"It's against Florida law, No. 1, and it's for a bicyclist's own safety," said Johnson. "Just as if here, the vehicle turning, he's riding in the wrong lane of travel. He should be on the opposite side of the road."

Police said Layman and Kimberly Buhler, the driver of the car, were transported to the hospital Friday night.   According to the FHP report, Buhler's injury was minor and a child in the back seat of her vehicle was not injured.

"When the vehicle made that right turn onto the side street, obviously he's swerving to avoid the collision, and he wound up colliding with another vehicle, probably traveling at the speed limit or more. It's going from a 45 to a 55 zone, so it's a high speed roadway," said Johnson.

The FHP asks that anyone with additional information about the accident calls the traffic homicide unit at 904-825-5080.