New Smyrna Beach, FL – Charges are pending after a 47-year-old bicyclist is hit by a sport utility vehicle on State Road 44.
The New Smyrna Beach Police Department says it happened around 10:20am Tuesday on the 2000 block, next to the Home Depot and Mullinax Ford dealership.
NSBPD Lieutenant Shane Riggle says the victim was riding his bicycle in the westbound lanes when a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee rear-ended the bicycle, pinning the victim and the bicycle underneath the Jeep.
“He was airlifted [in] critical condition [to] Halifax Hospital,” Riggle added. “We don’t know if he was hit in the road or hit on the shoulder.”
The victim’s identity isn’t being released at this time, per Riggle.
The 37-year-old driver of the Jeep wasn’t injured and was released from the scene as NSBPD continues to investigate. His identity also wasn’t released by NSBPD.
All westbound lanes were closed for nearly 3 hours as police processed the scene. The entire road was also briefly closed so Air One – the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office helicopter – could land on the road and take the victim to the hospital.
NSBPD is asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to call Investigator Mike Delahanty at 386-402-7736.
Photos of the accident scene are courtesy of the NSB Professional Firefighters Association.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.