Motorcycle rear-ends stopped car in Ponte Vedra Beach

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Dennis Shorter informed Historic City News that a Ponte Vedra Beach man who was riding a motorcycle this afternoon, failed to stop in time to avoid a collision with the rear-end of a vehicle stopped at a traffic signal on SR-A1A.

At about 12:55 this afternoon, the motorcycle operator, 20-year-old Taylor Austin Ryan, was traveling north on SR-A1A, approaching the intersection with ATP Boulevard, when he collided with the left rear of the stopped vehicle.

Ryan was ejected from the 2000 Suzuki motorcycle, sustaining critical injuries when he came to rest in the intersection. St Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the scene, stabilized the patient, and prepared him to be transported, by air ambulance, to the trauma unit at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

The stopped 2010 ACURA TSX, driven by 17-year-old Nicholas A Tharp, sustained about $4,000 in damages from the crash — the motorcycle, about $5,000. Tharp was evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel and released. He had been wearing his seatbelt and alcohol was not indicated as a factor.

Troopers are awaiting toxicology findings from the hospital and continuing their investigation before determining what, if any, charges will be filed in this crash.