Florida man dies while test-driving Harley Davidson motorcycle

What should have been a fun day for a Florida man and his family in test driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle ended in nothing less than a total nightmare.

According to the New York Post, Miracle City Harley-Davidson was the scene of chaos after the Titusville Police Department responded in the wake of reports of a fatal motorcycle crash at a nearby shopping center.

Authorities reported that the man, identified in a press release as Richard J. Peach, took a 2014 Harley for a test drive and "lost control" of the bike, crashing into the exterior wall of an unoccupied storefront.

"The preliminary investigation revealed Richard J. Peach, 68, of Cocoa, was test-driving a 2014 Harley Davidson motorcycle within the confines of the Titus Landing parking area, lost control, and crashed into the rear exterior wall of an unoccupied shopping venue. Initial evidence revealed speed was a factor in the crash," the press release stated.

It continued, "Preliminary findings show Peach was wearing a safety helmet and possessed a valid Florida State Driver's License, which included a motorcycle endorsement."

Fla. man dies after Harley-Davidson motorcycle test drive goes horribly wrong in crash at dealership https://t.co/ikkZmhBzKt pic.twitter.com/fhkW4bgV60

— New York Post (@nypost) March 27, 2024

Peach was transported to a nearby hospital after the crash. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries while being treated.

While the police department's press release said Peach was wearing a helmet during his test drive, one witness claimed he wasn't, though that couldn't be verified.

"There’s no protection. If somebody bumps you in a car, you get a dent in a door. They bump you on this thing, you probably lose a leg," the witness reportedly said.

Another witness, Christopher Maglione, who works in the shopping plaza where the crash occurred, claimed that Peach was "going the wrong way" on a nearby street during the test drive.

"I’m incredibly shocked. I’ve never heard of anything like that happening in this plaza before ever," Maglione reportedly said.

Peach, 68, was reportedly from the Cocoa, Florida area, about 16 miles south of where the fatal crash occurred.

Police said nobody else was hurt in the fatal accident and no other vehicles were involved.

Multiple media outlets reported that they reached out to Harley Davidson for a comment.