1 Motorcyclist Killed, Another Severely Injured In U.S. 19 Crash

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A Riverview man has died following a crash Wednesday involving a large group of motorcyclists.

According to Tarpon Springs police, at 11:15 p.m., a group of motorcyclists were traveling south on U.S. 19 south of Beckett Way when two of them were involved in a crash.

One motorcyclist was severely injured and a second motorcyclist, later identified as 28-year-old Carlos Candelario was killed at the scene.

Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue treated the severely injured motorcyclist and took him to Bayonet Point Medical Center.

Tarpon Springs Police Department traffic homicide detectives are investigating the cause of the crash. According to witnesses, the large group of motorcycles was traveling down U.S. 19, heading to Tampa when the motorcycle that Candelario was operating swerved into another motorcycle, causing both motorcycles to go down.

Candelario was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered fatal traumatic injuries.

At this point, speeding, drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash. Candelario was wearing a helmet, but it may not have been properly secured and came off during the crash.

A third motorcycle also went down, but left the scene before officers arrival.