Boca Raton Motorcyclist Killed in Wrong-Way Collision with Drunk Driver
A 48-year-old Boca Raton man (a veteran rider with decades of motorcycle riding experience under his belt) was killed last weekend when his motorcycle collided with a car that was traveling the wrong way on State Road 7 near Grand Verde Way. He leaves behind two young children and other grieving family members.
The motorcyclist and victim - Bradley Ebbert of Coconut Creek - was heading northbound when he realized that the car being driven by Steward Springfield of Boca Raton was coming in his direction. Despite eyewitness statements that Mr. Ebbert tried to avoid the crash by swerving out of the way, his motorcycle collided with Mr. Springfield's car. He was thrown from his 1977 Harley Sportster, receiving fatal head and internal injuries. He died at the scene soon after the accident occurred at three-o-clock in the morning of Saturday, April 16.
Preliminary investigation information released by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office indicates that the driver of the Lexus - Mr. Springfield - was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. Witnesses indicate that he, too, tried to avoid the wreck upon seeing the motorcycle heading toward him, but that he and Mr. Ebbert tragically swerved in the same direction in their attempts to avoid striking one another.
It is not yet clear why Springfield's vehicle was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of State Road 7, but traffic records show the driver has a history of speeding violations. He received minor injuries when his vehicle slid into the northbound median after it collided with Mr. Ebbert's motorcycle.
