Orange City, FL – A bizarre incident on a Florida highway left two motorcyclists injured after they collided with an alligator that was unexpectedly in the middle of the road. The accident, which occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, sent both victims to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The victims, a 67-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, were both riding together when they veered off the highway in Orange City after striking the alligator, which was approximately six feet long, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson. After hitting the animal, the man, later identified as Cameron Gilmore, crashed into a tree.
A Close Call with a Gator
Gilmore, who was riding with a group of motorcyclists, recounted the moments leading up to the crash. He told local news station WKMG, “I just remember one of my friends swerving, and I’m looking at him swerving, and the gator’s like 10 feet in front of me.” As he got closer to the alligator, Gilmore said he realized there was no time to react. “I was going to hit it. I didn’t even have a second to do anything. I couldn’t put on the brakes or not. And I just had to hold on.”
Video footage from the accident circulating online shows another motorcyclist narrowly avoiding the gator, and an image of the injured animal on the asphalt. According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), both motorcyclists were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Friend Witnesses the Crash
Gilmore’s friend, who was riding behind him, saw the crash unfold. “When he passed the gator, he saw me hit it, go up in the air, and flip over the handlebars,” Gilmore told WKMG. “I hit head-first and rolled.” Despite the harrowing crash, Gilmore said that he felt “blessed” to have survived with only broken bones and road rash.
The Alligator’s Fate
After the crash, FHP dispatched the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to assist with the alligator. The injured gator survived the incident, though it was clearly harmed in the collision. The gator’s fate remains unclear, but it was not reported to have caused any other accidents.
Crash Investigation Underway
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash, which has raised awareness about the potential dangers of wildlife on Florida highways. As motorcyclists face unique risks on the road, the presence of large animals like alligators adds another layer of danger to an already hazardous environment.
