INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 30-year-old man was arrested after he was involved in a July motorcycle crash that left a woman with severe road rash over much of her body, Indian River County deputies said.
Matthew David Bona, of the 2500 block of Fairway Drive, Vero Beach, was charged Tuesday with driving under the influence causing serious bodily harm. He was released the same day on $5,000 bail.
Matthew Bona
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The single-vehicle crash left a woman, who was riding on the motorcycle’s back seat, with severe road rash to more than 75 percent of her body, officials said. Deputies observed the woman’s exposed bone on her right arm and took her to the hospital for immediate surgery.
An update on her condition was not available.
Bona was driving the motorcycle about 11 p.m. July 15 on Aviation Boulevard and Airport Drive when the vehicle went off the roadway and onto the shoulder, officials said. The motorcycle tipped on its side and skidded along the grassy area.
Officers spoke with Bona and the female passenger. Bona, who had road rash and cuts all over his body, told officers he lost control of the motorcycle. Officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Bona’s breath.
The woman told officers the vehicle was traveling at 50 mph and that she told Bona to slow down.
Bona was taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce. The woman was taken to the Indian River Medical Center, officials said.
Officers spoke with the woman again later, where she said she and Bona were drinking earlier at the Walking Tree Brewery.
Officers got Bona’s medical record results in October and discovered his blood-alcohol content level was at least twice over the legal limit, during the crash, according to officials.
Bona was arrested on a warrant and taken to the county jail for booking. Details on the relationship between Bona and the woman were not available.
No further information was available.
