Man thrown from bike, hospitalized

A Mississippi man was listed in critical condition following a car crash last week.

Samuel Alford Whitmire Jr., 30, of Stewart, Miss., was flown by helicopter to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola when the motorcycle he was driving crashed into a car at 6:30 p.m.  June 24.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol press release, Whitmire was traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 98, alongside an Oldsmobile Cutlass, driven by Georgeanna Dudley, 79, and her passenger, Joseph Marciniak, 49, both of Navarre.

Whitmire did not see Dudley slowing as she entered the right turn lane at Orion Parker Boulevard, and tried to change lanes.

Whitmire was thrown from the bike as he struck the rear of the Cutlass.

Dudley and Marciniak were both wearing seatbelts, and Whitmire was wearing a helmet, according to FHP.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash and charges are pending a FHP investigation.