WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A 39-year-old Vero Beach motorcyclist was killed after a van’s driver turned into the motorcycle’s path, causing a collision on State Road 60, sheriff’s officials and fire rescue crews said. Several off-duty nurses at the wreckage site tried to resuscitate the injured man before first responders arrived.
“(The motorcyclist) was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest,” said Steve Greer, Assistant Fire Chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue. The van’s driver and at least one passenger refused treatment.
The wreck happened about 7:25 p.m. on Monday at the S.R. 60 and 66th Avenue intersection, Greer said. The motorcyclist was traveling westbound on S.R. 60 when the van’s driver made a left turn in front of the motorcycle, said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The motorcyclist then collided with the side of the van, Jaworski said. Fire rescue took the motorcyclist by ambulance to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, where doctors pronounced the man dead, Greer said.
Deputies closed the roadway for about four hours, Jaworski said. Westbound traffic was diverted up to 26th Street.
Florida Highway Patrol was investigating the cause of the crash. Highway troopers were not immediately available for comment.
