published: Friday, September 28, 2012

Clermont woman dead after motorcycle crash

Eustis

Staff Report

A motorcyclist braking to avoid a turtle in the road caused a three-bike collision that killed a 49-year-old Clermont wo-man, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Angelita Carrington Harris died at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She was riding on the back of a 2003 Honda motorcycle driven by her husband, Richard A. Wo-mack, who also was injured in the wreck near Eustis and admitted to Florida Hospital Water-man in Tavares.

According to the FHP, Womack was eastbound on State Road 44, following a 2008 Harley David-son motorcycle driven by Dennis G. Vaught, 55, of Longwood, when the accident occurred Satur-day morning near Tangle-wood Drive.

Vaught saw a turtle in the road and applied his brakes, causing Womack to rear-end the Harley Davidson, the FHP said.

Womack then swerved to the right and clipped Rex G. Clark, 50, of Ocoee, who was riding a 2008 Harley Davidson beside him, the FHP said.

Vaught lost control of his bike and laid it down after being hit from behind. Neither he nor his passenger, Diane M. Griffin, 49, of Winter Park, were injured.

Womack lost control of his bike and laid it down, too.

Harris had to be airlifted from the scene because of the extent of her injuries.

Clark, who was clipped when Womack swerved to the right, was able to safely pull over to the side of the road.

He received minor in-juries and was treated at Florida Hospital Water-man, but his passenger, Yolande Rebecca Kennedy, 45, of Ocoee, was unhurt.

The FHP said Kennedy was the only person wearing a helmet among the six riders.

The crash remains under investigation and charges may be pending.