Clearwater Motorcyclist Killed in Ulmerton Road Crash

A 35-year-old Clearwater man is dead following a Monday morning accident on Ulmerton Road at Coral Way.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the wreck happened around 3:45 a.m. The man, troopers say, was heading west at a high rate of speed on a Honda VT600CD. He was in the outside lane on Ulmerton near the intersection of Coral Way. A construction truck, driven by Robert Jeffrey Heavilin, 40, of New Port Richey was ahead of the motorcycle, but was moving at a slower rate of speed, troopers say.

A third vehicle, an Audi A4, driven by Casey Whitlock, 28, of Pinellas Park was also heading west in the inside lane.

As the motorcycle approached the slower truck, its rider tried to change from the outside lane to the inside in front of the Audi. The motorcycle, however, struck the rear of the truck. The motorcyclist was ejected from his bike and struck the front left side of the Audi.

The motorcyclist, who has not yet been identified, died at the scene.

Whitlock and Heavilin were uninjured.

Troopers say alcohol was not a factor in the crash. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet.