Two motorcyclists died on Friday in separate crashes that occurred less than an hour apart in Ocala.
The first crash occurred in the afternoon on SE 17th Street, and it involved a 20-year-old motorcyclist and an unspecified vehicle, according to the Ocala Police Department.
Due to the crash, all east and westbound lanes on SE 17th Street, from SE 11th Avenue to SE 16th Avenue, were temporarily blocked.
In a social media post, OPD stated that the 20-year-old motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital where he passed away from his injuries.
The second crash occurred less than an hour later, and it involved a “motorcycle vs vehicle crash” in the 4700 block of SW 20th Street, near Meadowbrook Church, according to OPD.
All westbound lanes in the area were temporarily blocked as a result of the accident, with only one eastbound lane remaining open.
The motorcyclist involved in the second crash, identified as a 29-year-old man, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.
“Tragically, this is the second motorcycle fatality we have seen in the same day in Ocala,” stated OPD on its Facebook page. The police department added that “our hearts go out to (their) loved ones during this very difficult time.”
The names of the motorcyclists were not released by Ocala police.
No further details were provided regarding the cause of the fatal crashes or the other vehicles and drivers that were involved.