PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A late-afternoon confrontation on South U.S. 1 turned violent Wednesday when a pickup truck chasing a motorcycle ran a red light and collided with multiple vehicles, leaving several people injured and one man in custody.
St. Lucie County deputies identified the driver taken into custody as 54-year-old Kevin Lonergan. He was booked on counts that include two felony charges for reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and an additional count of reckless driving causing injury. Court records show his bail was set at $20,000 and that he remained in the St. Lucie County Jail after being medically cleared.
Sequence of the crash
Deputies said the crash occurred about 6:45 p.m. Aug. 5 at the intersection of South U.S. 1 and Southeast Lyngate Drive/Southeast Tiffany Avenue. According to the police news release and witness video, a red Harley-Davidson and a black Ford Super Duty were traveling northbound on U.S. 1 amid a confrontational episode deputies described as "road-rage-related."
Investigators say the motorcycle entered the intersection against a red traffic signal and struck a black Chevrolet Silverado, ejecting the rider. The Ford truck driven by Lonergan then also entered the intersection on the red, struck the motorcycle rider and collided head-on with a blue Toyota RAV4.
"Road-rage-related"
Injuries and hospital transport
Emergency crews transported multiple crash victims to nearby hospitals. Authorities identified the motorcyclist as a 31-year-old man who suffered serious injuries, including a brain bleed and facial fractures, and lost consciousness at the scene. He was taken to Florida HCA Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce and was reported in stable condition at last update.
Two occupants of the RAV4 were also taken to Florida HCA Lawnwood Hospital, while the Silverado driver was transported to St. Lucie Medical Center. Officials did not release the names of those injured aside from Lonergan and the motorcycle rider.
| Vehicle | Destination hospital | Known condition |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle (rider, 31) | Florida HCA Lawnwood Hospital | Serious injuries; brain bleed; stable |
| Toyota RAV4 (two occupants) | Florida HCA Lawnwood Hospital | Transported; not identified |
| Chevrolet Silverado (driver) | St. Lucie Medical Center | Transported; not identified |
Traffic impact and investigation
All lanes on U.S. 1 at the scene were shut down while investigators processed the crash. The roadway remained closed through the night and reopened to traffic around 2 a.m. Aug. 6, according to the release.
- Arrest: Kevin Lonergan, 54, charged with multiple counts of reckless driving causing injury.
- Injuries: At least four people transported to area hospitals; one motorcyclist with life-threatening head and facial trauma.
- Evidence: Witness statements and dash-camera footage factored into investigators' reconstruction of the events.
Deputies said witnesses and dashcam video helped establish the sequence of vehicles entering the intersection against the traffic signal. Beyond the charging information and hospital destinations, deputies did not release additional details about the victims' conditions or what provoked the confrontation.
This collision underscores the risks of aggressive driving on U.S. 1, a heavily traveled north-south artery through Port St. Lucie that serves commuters, local businesses and commercial traffic. A crash of this scale tied up traffic and emergency resources during evening rush hours, and it left at least one local resident fighting for recovery in a hospital intensive-care setting.
As the sheriff's office continues the investigation, no additional arrests have been announced. Authorities asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact investigators.
Reporting from Port St. Lucie.
