Two motorcyclists were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after striking a six-foot alligator on Interstate 4 in Volus,ia County, Florida, according to the state Highway Patrol. The collision occurred around 6:00pm on Saturday, with both riders describing a surreal and unexpected encounter. The crash has raised questions about wildlife management along Florida’s highways, where the risk of such collisions is becoming increasingly common.
67-year-old Cameron Gilmore, who sustained a broken foot and toes after the impact, told WOFL that he and 25-year-old Brandi Gross were riding with a larger group when the former noticed a ‘big blob in the road.’ Initially, he believed it was a semi-tire that had come off the tread, but it soon became clear that the ‘blob’ was, in fact, an alligator. The reptile, which is typically found in wetlands and waterways, managed to throw Gilmore off his motorcycle after the collision. ‘I thought it was a semi-tire that came off the tread or something,’ Gilmore said. ‘I said, ‘Uh, help me, Jesus’… and I, um, just kept flipping.’ He described the experience as a series of uncontrollable flips before the motorcycle slid off the road and into the grass.
Gross, who was riding right behind Gilmore, suffered a similar fate. She explained that once she realized the ‘blob’ was an alligator, it was too late to avoid the collision. ‘I just seen something, and like, once I realized what it was, it was just too late,’ she told the network. ‘I was like, ‘oh crap, you know, like,’ and it just, the impact happened. I flipped over, and I just wasn’t expecting a gator to be in the middle of the road right there.’ Gross reportedly sustained a concussion and cracked the bone on the side of her wrist.
The extent of the alligator’s injuries remains unknown, and the crash is under investigation by local authorities. While the incident is being examined for potential wildlife management issues, both riders have remained upbeat despite their injuries. Gilmore humorously noted that he has been dubbed ‘Gator Gilmore’ rather than the traditional ‘Florida man’ label. ‘They’re calling me Gator Gilmore instead of Florida man… and I am, indeed, getting called Florida man, too.’ The incident serves as a reminder of the unique and sometimes dangerous coexistence between human activity and native wildlife in Florida.