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By Richard Tribou
Orlando Sentinel
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Law enforcement attempted to pull over a group of motorcyclists during Bike Week that were popping wheelies, and during pursuit one of the riders gave deputies the finger before running through a red light and getting hit by a truck, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Bike Week, which attracts hundreds of thousands of bikers to Daytona Beach and the surrounding areas began on March 3 and runs through next Sunday.
In video posted to the agency’s YouTube, it shows the initial pursuit and then deputies placing the rider in custody after the crash that occurred after 10 p.m. Friday. Note, the video contains foul language.
The video description says the initial traffic stop attempt was on Old Dixie Highway before the group accelerated and fled at high speed riding recklessly and passing vehicles crossing solid double lines on the road.
When approaching North Beach Street and West Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach, deputies say the group ignored a red light and continued to flee from deputies.
“One of them took the opportunity to look back and flip off the deputies behind him, after which he entered the intersection directly into the path of an oncoming truck,” deputies said.
The crash victim, Joshua Richardson, survived the crash, but ran from the scene before he was quickly overtaken by pursuing deputies on foot.
While compliant in the video, Richardson asks one of the deputies, “Do you think this is funny?” and the deputy responds, “No. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s incredibly stupid.”
The post said Richardson was taken to the hospital, but charged with fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting without violence and leaving the scene of a crash. He also was cited for failure to stop at a red light and passing in a no passing zone, deputies said.
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