Injured Florida motorcyclist calls friends, family but not 911 — a deadly error

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — A New Smyrna Beach-area man crashed his motorcycle into a culvert Monday night and over the course of the next four hours placed calls to friends and relatives.

But 46-year-old Ronald Courtney did not make the one call that might have saved his life: 911.

He was unable to tell his relatives, and those of his girlfriend, where he had crashed.

He placed his last call about 2:30 a.m., Sgt. Kim Miller of the Florida Highway Patrol said. It was almost 6 a.m. before Volusia County deputies found his body, using information from his cell phone carrier.

Had Courtney dialed 911, his location could have been determined quickly, Volusia County sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

Relatives told deputies Courtney sounded as though he had been drinking.

Authorities don't know whether that clouded his judgment or he didn't call 911 because his driver's license had been suspended and he was wanted on a warrant for probation violation, Davidson said.

Davidson said relatives begged Courtney to call 911.