Motorcyclist Seriously Injured In Safety Harbor Crash

SAFETY HARBOR, FL -- Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene of a serious accident involving a motorcycle at 12:31 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, in Safety Harbor.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Martin Luther King Street North and 9th Avenue North. According to investigators, 34 year-old Jabez Mitchem was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry and was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of 9th Avenue North and MLK Street North.

The operator of a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle, 32 year-old Joshua Melching, was traveling east on MLK Street North. Deputies say as Melching approached 9th Avenue North, Mitchem failed to yield and proceeded south across MLK Street North, striking the left side of the 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle and ejecting Melching.

Melching sustained serious injuries to his left leg and was transported by ambulance to Bayfront Medical Center.

Neither speed nor impairment appear to be factors in the crash.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff

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