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Lake Wales, FL (December 26, 2018) - A crash on Monday, December 24th left a motorcyclist with serious injuries. The crash took place just after 6:00 pm on US 27 North.
46-year-old Earl Woods was riding his motorcycle when he attempted to make a U-Turn near a car dealership. As he completed the turn, his motorcycle was struck by a black 2012 Ford Focus driven by 19-year-old Jessica Townsend. Townsend was traveling southbound on US 27 at the time of the crash.
Woods suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Townsend, who was driving with a suspended license, was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended or revoked license and causing death or serious bodily injury. She was taken to the Polk County Jail. Police continue to investigate the crash and say that additional charges are pending against Townsend.
Motorcycle accidents tend to leave a long-term impact on those affected. Sadly, many motorcycle crashes will result in death or serious injury to the motorcycle rider and any passengers. A motorcycle naturally offers less protection from a serious crash than a car or other larger vehicle. Statistics show us that motorcycle accidents account for about 14% of all traffic-related deaths while, at the same time, motorcycles account for only about 3% of all registered motor vehicles.
In this crash, it appears as though Jessica Townsend's negligence caused the unfortunate injuries suffered by Earl Woods. Although it is not clear exactly how the crash occurs, one or more traffic laws were violated, leading police to issue charges against Townsend. Our thoughts are with Earl Woods, and we hope for a full recovery from his serious injuries.
At Rubenstein Law, our Florida motorcycle accident attorneys are always standing by to assist you when you need it the most. If you or a loved one have been affected by a motorcycle crash in Tampa or surrounding areas, please contact us 24/7 at 1-800 FL-Legal.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has a website where motorists can check the status of their driver’s license to see if it is current.
Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the carnage and heartbreak that can be left behind for our clients and the public at large after a serious accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.
Note: These posts are created using publicly available and secondary sources. As such, the information has not been independently verified. If you see information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention, and we will make the necessary adjustments.
