Despite the record warm temperatures for the 2012 Daytona Bike Week, there were half as many fatalities than six years ago when Bike Week deaths reached an all time high of 16.
This year’s event was moved a week later in the calendar because of the Daytona 500 being scheduled a week later than in years past. It was the first time in recent memory that the final weekend of Bike Week, St. Patrick’s Day and College Spring Break all occurred on the same weekend. Vendors on Main Street reported that the crowds were the largest they have ever seen at the spring classic.
Fortunately the mixture of college kids and motorcyclists did not contribute to more motorcycle accidents or deaths. According to published reports a total of eight motorcycle-related deaths have been reported in Volusia and Flagler during Bike Week 2012.
The last two accidents that claimed the lives of two motorcyclists happened on Saturday night, around 9pm. The first was when 77 year old Barbara Dunn of Chatham Massachusetts allegedly veered into the southbound lane of State Rd A1A around 9pm into the path of 3 motorcyclists, killing Charles Bixler of Concord N.C. The other two motorcyclists ran off the road and were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries. Dunn was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter.
The other accident happened shortly afterwards on U.S. 1 in Ormond beach when 78 year old Charles Fuller turned left onto Airport Road into the path of Anthony Fretto, of Square N.Y. According to police reports Fuller left the scene and drove home but was arrested shortly afterwards.
A few days before Bike Week began, Amber Briton, 51 of Las Vegas NV, co-founder of Diamond Heads was killed when an SUV plowed into the back of the motorcycle she was riding on with her husband.
According to published reports, no fatalities occurred on Sunday, the final day of Daytona’s Bike Week.
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