Ocala motorcycle club ride ends in tragedy when 80-year-old rider dies in crash

ANTHONY — An 80-year-old motorcycle rider was killed and another rider, age 74, was injured late Tuesday morning when they crashed in a rural section of northeast Marion County.

The Florida Highway Patrol no longer includes names in its news releases. The agency only gave the men’s ages and said both were from Ocala.

The motorcycles – one riding in front of the other – were westbound on Northeast 90th Street Road about a mile east of Baseline Road (State Road 35/Northeast 58th Avenue.)

According to the patrol, the younger man, who was in front, was coming around a corner when he lost control of the bike and left the roadway. The rider returned to the roadway, and the trailing motorcycle struck the lead one.

Troopers said the two motorcycles rolled at least once. Both riders were transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where the rider of the second motorcycle died. The other rider suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The highway patrol said this crash caused a second crash involving additional motorcycle riders who were part of the group with the first two men. In that second crash, a third rider struck a fence but was not injured.

Marion County Fire Rescue spokesman James Lucas said his agency was assigned the call at 11:28 a.m. and arrived at the location at 11:38 a.m.

The men were part of a larger motorcycle group that was out riding on Tuesday

Joe Nazario said he was riding with both individuals. Nazario said they were part of a 10-person group from Blue Knights Ocala Chapter Florida 3. The riders were on their way to get something to eat when the crash occurred.

Most of the riders were riding Harley-Davidsons. Nazario is president of the motorcycle club, which usually rides twice a month.

The two-lane road was blocked by troopers and Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies for several hours so FHP officials could conduct their investigation.