Two collision victims are in UF Health Shands Hospital following a crash on 13th Street. One hour after the accident, a car flipped over on the corner of Southwest Williston Road.
Bryant Wells and UF student Julian Oliveros-baena were involved in the first incident on 13th street. One of them is facing life-threatening injuries as of 6 p.m. Friday.
A portion of 13th Street was shut down Friday after a motorcycle and scooter collided. The accident happened at the traffic light in front of Krispy Kreme, Gainesville Police Department spokesperson Graham Glover said.
No one was seriously harmed in the second accident, despite a car flipping over east of the corner of Southwest Williston Road and Southwest 23rd Street.
An Alachua County Sheriff Office’s deputy examines the scene of a roll-over car crash on Williston Road on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. At least two vehicles were involved in the incident.
Glover could not provide additional updates as of 2 p.m. Saturday. It’s unclear how the accidents happened, who the victims were and who may have been at fault.
Police taped off 13th Street from Northwest Third Avenue to Northwest Fourth Avenue. Both vehicles were totaled, and the scooter was ripped in half on impact.
Eros Puentes, 34, and his wife were close to the scene working in La Maracucha Food Truck. Puentes’ wife said she saw two people in the air land on the road, then witnessed several people, including a nurse, stop their cars to help the victims.
“The guy on the red bike could move,” Puentes said. “But the one on the scooter was not moving.”
Puentes said the victim on the red bike was able to walk to the sidewalk and lie down, but the other victim remained in the street until paramedics arrived to transport him to the hospital.
In the last few weeks, Oliveros-Baena has made progress in his recovery after being in critical condition following the accident. His family and friends have started a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses, rehabilitation and living costs for the family while they are in Gainesville. Donate here.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Faith Buckley contributed to this report.
Contact Troy Myers at @tmyers@alligator.org or follow him on Twitter @Troy_Myers1.
Troy is the criminal justice reporter and a fourth-year journalism major with an outside focus in business administration. He previously studied accounting for two years at Santa Fe College but has since transferred to UFCJC. When Troy isn’t writing, he enjoys going to the beach and spending time with his dog, identical twin brother and family.
