Motorcylce Smashes Into Power Pole After 'Wheelies'

    A Eustis man was transported from the scene of a serious crash on SR 19 in Umatilla that occurred on Wednesday, August 31. Nathan Alviles, 20, suffered incapacitating injuries after a motorcycle he was riding struck a concrete power pole near the intersection of SR 19 and Turtle Run south of downtown.
    Umatilla Police indicated that Alviles and another man on a second motorcycle were traveling southbound on SR 19 at a high rate of speed just before 4 p.m. Alviles apparently lost control of the 2001 Suzuki GSXR100 he was riding before leaving the road and traveling onto the southbound shoulder.
    Reports state the duo had been witnessed riding on the road at a high rate of speed, and also performing ‘wheelies’ at times, which is riding with the front wheel of the motorcycle off the ground.
    The impact broke the concrete pole, and broke the motorcycle in two. The motor and front wheel spoke split off and traveled an estimated 100 feet, with the frame traveling another estimated 60 feet down the road before catching fire.
    One witness of the crash described an ‘explosion’ when the motorcycle struck the pole.
    Alviles was transported to Sanford Regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Tuesday, Umatilla Police Chief Adam Bolton said it was the department’s understanding that Alviles’ condition was continuing to improve.