Motorcyclist Traveling Wrong-Way Dead in Fiery Crash Trying to Pass Vehicles in Hillsborough County
At approximately, 4:45 PM on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Jorge Puentes of Homestead, Florida was driving a 2001 Volvo tractor trailer owned by ML Express Delivery and was stopped in the eastbound lane of Broadway Ave. at the intersection of Queen Palm Dr. preparing to make a left turn.
According to investigators from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, approximately ten vehicles had stopped behind the tractor trailer.
They say that 30 year-old Michael Pierce of Seffner was traveling eastbound on Broadway Avenue on his 2005 Suzuki GSX-R600 sports bike at a high rate of speed approaching the stopped cars.
Pierce attempted to pass the line of cars in the westbound lanes just as the Mr. Puentes started his turn. At the same time, the owner of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, Dequincy Lavon Wilson, Jr. of Tampa, was preparing to turn right from southbound Queen Palm Dr. onto westbound Broadway Ave.
Reports indicate that Pierce attempted to brake but laid the bike down as he realized he could not stop in time.
The motorcycle slid into the drive axles of the tractor trailer. The gas tank ruptured the gas tank of the motorcycle causing gas to be splattered onto the tractor which ignited. Mr. Pierce tumbled along the ground and struck the Hyundai preparing to turn.
Pierce died at the scene.
The tractor trailer and motorcycle were destroyed by fire. There were no injuries to either of the other drivers.
Next of kin was notified and no charges are expected in this case according to investigators.
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