Jacksonville, Florida – Two teenage boys riding a minibike collided with a dump truck, resulting in the death of one and the injury of the other in Jacksonville, near the Prime Osborn Center, on Thursday afternoon. The 14-year-old, who was the passenger on the mini bike, died at the hospital, while the 13-year-old driver is in stable condition with minor injuries, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported.
The collision was captured on a surveillance video showing the dump truck driving north on Myrtle Avenue and turning right onto Harper Street, whereupon the speeding minibike came into view and ended up colliding with the truck. Witnesses behind the dump truck described the teenagers speeding off the sidewalk and into the road, subsequently hitting the passenger side of the dump truck.
The boys were thrown off the bike and transported to a local hospital by the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department. The truck driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. The investigation showed the driver did not exhibit any signs of impairment.
This tragic accident has underscored the police’s warning about the dangers of operating minibikes on roadways, asserting that drivers need to be licensed and at least 16 years of age. The death is the 169th traffic fatality in Duval County this year.