A series of Florida crashes since Saturday has left at least five motorcyclists dead during a popular 10-day rally for bikers, according to a report.
All the fatal crashes happened amid this year’s popular Daytona Beach Bike Week event, authorities told The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
The first wreck occurred on Saturday after a group of three motorcyclists was struck by a car near DeLand. According to the news outlet, two of the bikers died instantly and a third was transported in critical condition to a nearby hospital.
On Monday, two more motorcyclists lost their lives in separate accidents. One of the victims was a 39-year-old who collided with an SUV in St. Johns County, the newspaper reported.
On Wednesday morning, the latest crash occurred when a 42-year-old rider lost control of the bike and was found dead in a ditch near New Smyrna Beach.
Although all of the crashes occurred in the Daytona Beach area, it wasn’t immediately clear if victims were all taking part in the 10-day event, which began Friday and lasts until Sunday.
Motorcyclists attend the event each year to enjoy the spring weather, beaches, parks and “scenic rides throughout the Daytona Beach area and Volusia County,” according to the event’s website
Eight motorcyclists reportedly lost their lives in the same area during last year’s event — the most of any year since the event’s inception.
