38-year-old biker killed in crash with SUV

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 2, 2007

WEEKI WACHEE - Police identified the man killed Friday in a two-vehicle collision on Cortez Boulevard as Earnest V. Parker, 38, of Weeki Wachee.

Witnesses said Parker had just passed an eastbound car on his Suzuki motorcyle when he collided with a westbound GMC Yukon around 5:15 p.m.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver of the SUV, 52-year-old Melody W. Isom of Seffner, was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for treatment of non life-threatening injuries, police said. A passenger, 17-year-old Chad Isom, was treated for minor injuries.

Both vehicles came to rest west of U.S. 19 on the shoulder of Cortez Boulevard, which police closed to traffic while they investigated the crash.

Witness Christopher Guntor of Spring Hill said Parker passed him "going fast" in a passing zone just before a curve.

The road was slick from recent rain, he said.

"This is the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life," Guntor said. "When I saw it, I couldn't stop shaking."

[Last modified September 1, 2007, 19:53:28]