St. Johns County, Fla. – A 13-year-old boy from Hastings, Florida, died on Sunday after he was hit from behind by a pickup truck while riding his bicycle.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, it happened around 6:30 p.m. on County Road 13. Troopers said the pickup truck, driven by a 46-year-old man, was traveling east, passing the Cowpen Branch Road intersection, when it collided with the bike from behind.
The boy was thrown from his bike onto the road. The pickup truck came to a final rest on the right shoulder. The bicycle was still attached to the truck when officers arrived, the FHP report says.
The truck driver from Hollister, Florida, did not sustain any injuries. FHP said it is unclear why he did not see the boy in front of him, or if he will face any charges.
The Florida Highway Patrol does report the teen’s bike was not outfitted with lights.
- Lights are required by state law for bicycle riding between sunset and sunrise.
- Bicyclists are required to have a white light at the front of their bike which is visible for 500-feet away.
- And a red light on the back is required, visible from 600-feet away.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, crashes and deaths involving bicycles in the state have seen a very slight decrease in recent years.
| Year | Crashes involving Bicycles | Deaths from Crashes involving Bicycles |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6,590 | 160 |
| 2019 | 6,664 | 156 |
| 2020 | 5,952 | 169 |
| 2021 | 5,646 | 153 |