Florida Motorcyclist Seriously Injured After Colliding with Six-Foot Alligator on Highway

Two motorcyclists are recovering after a harrowing encounter with a six-foot alligator along a busy Florida highway over the weekend. The unusual incident unfolded just after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, startling drivers and raising concerns about wildlife hazards on state roads.

The collision occurred on Interstate 4 in Volusia County, where 67-year-old Cameron Gilmore and 25-year-old Brandi Gross were riding with a group of fellow motorcyclists. Gilmore described spotting what he first thought was debris on the roadway, only to realize too late that it was actually an alligator sprawled across the asphalt. “I thought it was a semi-tire that came off the tread or something,” Gilmore explained. After making contact with the animal, he was thrown from his motorcycle, resulting in a broken foot and several broken toes. “I said, ‘Uh, help me, Jesus’. And I... just kept flipping. I’m like, when is this going to stop?” Gilmore said, recalling the moments he slid off the highway into the grass, immobilized by his injuries.

Traveling directly behind Gilmore, Gross experienced a similarly terrifying ordeal. “I just seen something, and like, once I realized what it was, it was just too late,” she recounted. “I flipped over, and I just wasn't expecting a gator to be in the middle of the road right there.” Gross suffered a concussion and cracked a bone in her wrist during the crash.

The fate of the alligator remains uncertain, and authorities have launched an investigation into the crash. Encounters between motorists and wildlife are not uncommon in Florida, but incidents involving alligators—especially on major highways—are rare and often dangerous.

Despite their injuries, Gilmore and Gross remain in good spirits. Gilmore joked about his new nickname, saying, "They're calling me Gator Gilmore instead of Florida man," though he admitted he’s still being called "Florida man" by some. Both riders are now recovering as investigators continue to piece together the bizarre chain of events that led to the unusual highway accident.