Harley-Davidson test drive turns deadly when rider slams into wall, Florida cops say

A routine Harley-Davidson test drive turned deadly when the motorcycle slammed into a store wall at a Florida shopping center, according to police.

It happened around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, March 25, outside Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, officials said in a news release. Titusville is about a 40-mile drive east from Orlando.

“An adult male was test-driving a 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycle within the confines of the Titus Landing parking area, lost control, and crashed into the rear exterior wall of an unoccupied shopping venue,” police said.

The victim, identified as 68-year-old Richard J. Peach, was taken to a hospital and died about 25 minutes later, police said.

Peach lived in Cocoa, about a 16-mile drive south of Titusville.

No one else was hurt and no other vehicles were involved, police said.

Investigators did not report the origin of the motorcycle he was riding.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Peach was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the crash, and he had a valid Florida State driver’s license, “which included a motorcycle endorsement,” police said.

A witness told WOFL the motorcycle appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed — as much as 50 mph — “and going the wrong way” in a road when it crashed.

Miracle City Harley-Davidson has a 2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide listed for sale and the bikes can go from 0 to 100 mph in 14.5 seconds, Cycle World reports.

This story was originally published March 27, 2024 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Harley-Davidson test drive turns deadly when rider slams into wall, Florida cops say."