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Sanford woman dies after falling asleep on motorcycle, landing on I-95 in Volusia, FHP says

Harley-Davidson operator Ricardo Bernal arrested

Traffic on I-95 is being diverted in Scottsmoor because of a crash a few miles up the road in Oak Hill. (Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

OAK HILL, Fla. – A 34-year-old Sanford woman was killed Friday when she fell asleep on the back of a motorcycle and fell onto I-95 in Volusia County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The fatal single-vehicle wreck happened around 2:05 p.m. on I-95 north at mile marker 235, just north of the Brevard County line.

The FHP said Ricardo Bernal, 45, of Sanford was operating a 2003 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide and the woman – later identified as Sara Vasquez – was his passenger.

According to an FHP crash report, Vasquez is believed to have fallen asleep and fell off the bike, striking a guardrail. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

[VIDEO BELOW: Fatal crash closes I-4 in Orlando]

Bernal was arrested on charges of driving with a revoked license as a habitual traffic offender resulting in death, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving without a motorcycle endorsement. He was booked into the Volusia County jail.

Ricardo Bernal, 45 (Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

Neither Bernal nor Vasquez were wearing helmets, the crash report stated.

Traffic was diverted at Exit 231 onto U.S. Highway 1 in the Scottsmoor area, but I-95 was later reopened.


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