Action News Jax is working to get answers from police after witnesses sent us video of a crash on Jacksonville’s Southside.
Warning: The video may be difficult to watch.
It shows a motorcyclist try to pop a wheelie, but the bike slips out from under him and crashes along Southside Boulevard near Philips Highway. A witness sent the YouTube video to Action News Jax and said it happened Saturday morning. The witness told us she saw drag racing before the crash happened.
Since Action News Jax first reported on the crash, other witnesses have come forward to say this was not drag racing on the road. They said vehicles were leaving a nearby event and this motorcyclist was attempting to perform a trick when he crashed.
WARNING - this may be difficult to watch.
— Elizabeth Pace (@PaceAnJax) January 14, 2020
This video shows a motorcyclist thrown from his bike on a busy highway. A witness told me it happened in the middle of drag racing Saturday morning. Story tonight at 5 on @ActionNewsJax. pic.twitter.com/3rymVhn2J3
The witness asked to remain anonymous for privacy but said the public needs to be aware of the potential danger on a busy highway.
“You see the motorcycle laying here, and you know somebody is either hurt or dead,” she said. “But you don’t see an ambulance, you don’t see police; you just see this crowd of people.”
She said about 50 people were standing along the busy highway when the crash happened Saturday. She said she also witnessed other cars drag racing on Southside Boulevard, blocking traffic and putting other drivers at risk.
Action News Jax is working to find this group of people and find out more about the motorcyclist’s condition.
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“They did a drag race from there all the way to Phillips Highway,” she said. “Just how dangerous it is for the other people on the road, as well as the people doing it.”
Action News Jax reporter Elizabeth Pace reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol regarding this motorcycle crash and possible drag racing. The public information officer for each agency said they did not receive any reports of a crash or injuries in this area Saturday morning.
However, the JSO PIO did send the following statement regarding possible drag racing in Jacksonville:
“This type of behavior would most definitely be frowned upon and we would encourage drivers/riders to refrain from attempting on the streets of Jacksonville. If it were witnessed by law enforcement, the officer would have the ability to take enforcement action for these actions.”
Pace also showed the YouTube video to neighbors on Jacksonville’s Southside. They said they have noticed other cars street racing on Southside Boulevard before this event.
“It’s very scary, and it’s a very busy road. And even though there are stop lights, it’s concerning when you come out on the highway,” Vic Halbach said. “You have to look both ways, and you just have to be careful.”
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