Motorcycle Accidents New Haven

Cause of Billy Hardee's Fatal Crash Remains Unclear

The Lake Region High School assistant principal and former professional football player set off on his Harley-Davidson 1300 from Florida to Virginia to meet up with his old college roommate, Morris Blueford. While in Virginia, Hardee helped his son, Billy Hardee III, move into a new house.

The two motorcycle enthusiasts then set out for Toronto to visit Hardee's oldest daughter, Valerie Hardee. Then they went to California to visit more of Hardee's relatives.

"He was very adventurous," Vera Hardee said about her father. "I think he thought he was 20."

Hardee, 56, was scheduled to return to Winter Haven on Monday, but he never made it.

On Friday night, he was in a motorcycle accident about 30 miles east of Phoenix.

Hardee was taken to a hospital in Phoenix and died Monday afternoon. Officials in Arizona are still trying to confirm what caused the crash.

Hardee's family also is still trying to determine what happened. Vera Hardee, 24, said her father apparently veered off the road and fell from his bike.

Blueford, 58, said he was riding in front of Hardee. When he looked back and saw that Hardee was no longer following, he turned around. He saw two Arizona state troopers with Hardee, who was lying on the side of the road.

Blueford said his friend and traveling partner was an outgoing person who had stopped to talk to everyone he could on the road trip.

"Billy was like a brother to me," he said. "It was a great sense of loss."

Vera Hardee and her family flew into Phoenix on Saturday after learning about the crash.

"It's still not real," Vera Hardee said. "I feel like when I get home my dad is going to be on the couch, playing poker on his computer."

The family didn't realize how many people were impacted by Hardee until they were swarmed with phone calls, emails and text messages during the weekend from people who heard about the accident.

Friends have told Vera Hardee that people plan on making T-shirts and Facebook pages in memory of her father.

One student, Ashley Ford, 18, of Winter Haven, said she created a memorial Facebook page.

"Everyone can show their love," she said.

Billy Hardee had spoken with her and her mother several times throughout the previous school year, she said.

Vera Hardee fondly remembers her father's sense of humor. He went with her to pick out a wedding dress for her upcoming wedding, and the two spent the entire time cracking jokes.

Motorcycle accident at Maupin St and Arizona St, driver ...

Responded for a motorcycle accident in the area of Maupin Street and Arizona Street  According to Capitain Dan Terry , the throttle got stuck on the bike and the driver was forced to lay it down.  Marks from the bike are visible on the pavement.

The driver was transported to St. Johns in Washington by New Haven EMS.  At this time, the extent and type of injuries the driver sustained are unknown.

The Ballad of Bob Dylan, A Portrait

Monthly Bulletin

A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County

Hippie

Greater New York