Mulberry, Florida – Around 4:15 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2016, according to witnesses and evidence, a black 2002 Suzuki motorcycle being driven aggressively and recklessly by 41-year-old Terry Cochran of Lower Meadow Road, Mulberry, was heading northbound on Kathleen Road approaching Falling Leaf Lane in north Lakeland, weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, when Cochran lost control and slid into a steel guardrail. Cochran was wearing goggles but not a helmet. He was ejected from the motorcycle and propelled approximately 40 feet beyond the point of impact. He was transported to LRHMC as a trauma alert, where he suffered extremely critical injuries, and is not expected to survive.
Cochran does not have a valid Florida D.L. and has a suspended Kentucky D.L. He was arrested in August 2015 for operating the same motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement. In his possession at the time of the crash was a pipe that field-tested positive for Meth. Initial blood testing at the hospital indicates Meth was in his system.
The northbound lanes of Kathleen Rd in that area were closed for approximately 4 hours during the crash investigation. Impairment and excessive speed appear to be factors in the crash. No other parties were involved in the crash.
