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4 Healing After Motorcycle Demo

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: November 26, 2008

PLANT CITY - Police Chief Bill McDaniel, one of his officers and two spectators were injured Nov. 18 during a motorcycle demonstration for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

The injured spectators, both women, were taken by ambulance to South Florida Baptist Hospital.

"Everybody's fine; nothing is broken," chamber President Marion Smith said after visiting the women at the hospital after the 1:15 p.m. accident that occurred after Officer Chad Rader lost control of his motorcycle and it slid into bleachers at 1 Police Place.

Other sources identified the women as Pam Knight, a Tampa Electric Co. employee, and Lynn Connor, owner of Tip to Toe Day Spa & Gifts, 101 S. Alexander St., Plant City.

Both women were hospitalized. Two days after the accident, Connor remained at South Florida Baptist in good condition and Knight had been released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The chief was standing next to the bleachers and was injured "only slightly," said Police Capt. Darrell Wilson. "He's a little sore, but fine. I don't think he took a direct hit" from the 800-pound 2005 Harley-Davidson, one of five in the department's Traffic Management Unit.

Rader, the driver, suffered "minor road rash" and was released after treatment at the hospital, Wilson said.

Rader has been with the department since 2000 and a member of the motorcycle unit since 2004.

What caused the accident is undetermined, and the department is conducting an investigation.

Rader's motorcycle was the only one in use at the time, and it was headed toward the bleachers at the time of the accident, preceding a demonstration of radar and laser devices that clock speed, Wilson said.

Wilson would not speculate on the cause of the crash.

"I think he did everything he could, that he was taught, to prevent more serious accident or more serious injury," Wilson said.

The demonstration was for Leadership Plant City, an annual chamber of commerce program launched in 1983 to enhance members' familiarity with Plant City. One segment of the eight-month program includes a tour of the police department and demonstrations of its motorcycle and K-9 units.

Smith, who visited the two injured members at the local hospital, said both were treated for "deep cuts on their legs" but were in good spirits.

"It was just an accident. The officer, naturally, feels bad," Smith added.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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