Donna Yuleene Bryant, 45, of Charlotte, NC, was traveling westbound in a large semi truck on U.S. Hwy 90 behind a touring group of bicyclists on Saturday, May 28 around an estimated time of 8:30 a.m.
In that group was Kevin Enrique Jessurum, 21, of Miami.
When Bryant attempted to overtake and pass the group of bicyclists, Jessurum collided with the rear of another bicyclists’ vehicle, causing Jessurum to veer into a southwest direction and into the oncoming path of Bryant’s vehicle. The right rear wheel of Jessurum’s bicycle collided with the right front of Bryant’s semi truck, and both the vehicles traveled northwest into the north shoulder of Hwy 90.
However, as Jessurum had moved himself and his bicycle prior to the arrival of law enforcement and first responders, final rest could not be identified; Bryant’s semi came to rest on the north shoulder of the road, facing west.
Upon arrival of the Madison County EMS, Jessurum refused to be transported by ambulance to Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH), despite the fact that he did suffer minor injuries sometime between the collision between his bicycle and fellow cyclist or during the collision between his bicycle and Bryant’s truck.
As an alternative, Jessurum allowed himself to be transported to MCMH by a friend, instead.
Florida Highway Patrol covered the scene, with assistance from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Fire Rescue and the Madison County EMS.
Charges are pending for careless driving.
The biking group was touring from Miami to Tallahassee in support of The Ability Experience, an organization that uses shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders.
Before departing from Madison to Tallahassee, the cyclists visited with the Arc of North Florida and interacted with various individuals in the community.
The ride, despite the accident that took place, was finished later that day, as the cyclists ended their tour on May 28 with $87K in raised funds for people with disabilities.
Basil Lyberg, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, was contacted on Tuesday, May 31, and Lyberg commented that Jessurum had not been badly injured during the collision with Bryant’s semi.
“I spoke with him just recently and he is doing very well,” said Lyberg, assuring that no long-standing damage had been done during the collision.