New Smyrna Beach cops: Biker, 21, killed on US 1 while apparently speeding and smacking into back of minivan

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 21-year-old biker apparently speeding was killed when he slammed his Suzuki sport bike into a minivan in front of him Saturday night while both vehicles were heading south on U.S. 1 near Skyline Drive, New Smyrna Beach police said.

Wade A. Althafer was pronounced dead at the scene of the 8:50 p.m. accident. The driver of the Chrysler minivan was not hurt.

"He was (going) at a high rate of speed when witnesses said he locked up his brakes," Sgt. Christopher Roos said told NSBNews.net.

The young man's full-face helmet was knocked off in the crash. The speed limit on that stretch of road is 55 mph.

Althafter's death followed that of fellow Smyrna Beach motorcyclist Lawrence Goble, 44, killed when he crashed his Harley-Davidson while riding north on Edgewater Canal Road near Tuum Boulevard just after 7 p.m. Thursday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Goble, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead on the scene. His Harley was found in the nearby Canal.
"For some unknown he fell off his motorcycle," FHP spokesman Sgt. Kim Montes said. "It may have been a medical situation. We won't know until results of an autopsy."

The motorcycle was found in the canal with its headlight sticking out, she said, adding, "When the bike was pulled out of the Canal, the damage was consistent with a crash, but not from contact with another vehicle. His (fatal) injuries were consistent with falling from the bike."