Bradenton motorcyclist dies in crash at 7-Eleven store

A 20-year-old Bradenton man is dead after his motorcycle crashed Thursday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers say James Russell Smith died after being struck by a car while driving his motorcycle into a 7-Eleven gas station at the corner of Whitfield Avenue and 15th Street East at about 9:30 p.m. and collided with another vehicle.

Jason Lozeau, a witness on the scene, said Smith’s motorcycle was traveling through the area at such a high rate of speed, “It went airborne when it hit that hump, he landed, hit his brakes, locked up and turned sideways and hit the rear end of the other car.”

Smith was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital where he died.

A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy had spotted the motorcycle running a red light at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Whitfield Avenue, and had attempted to make a traffic stop, according to a narrative of the incident provided by sheriff’s office spokesman Randy Warren.

But the deputy told dispatch that he had turned off his emergency lights before the motorcycle took off at a high speed, according to the report.

Moments later, however, the deputy reported seeing the motorcycle’s taillights when it went airborne. The deputy re-initiated his lights and arrived at the intersection of 15th Street East and Whitfield Avenue to discover the motorcycle had been involved in a traffic crash.

According to the report, statements from two witnesses at the scene were consistent with the deputy’s observations.

Lozeau told the Bradenton Herald that he witnessed the crash and recalled the deputy who had not been far behind the motorcycle.

“He hit that hump in the road and went airborne through the intersection. The other car had slowed down into the 7-Eleven parking lot. When the motorcycle landed, he hit his brakes, locked up, and he turned sideways and hit the rear end of the other car,” Lozeau said. “We pulled in right behind him and watched him take his last few breaths.”

According to Lozeau, the deputy told him that he had ended his pursuit because of the way he was driving.

“The guys in the Camaro had no chance,” Lozeau said. “It wasn’t anywhere near their fault.”

This story was originally published January 3, 2020 at 8:16 AM.