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Motorcyclist thrown from bike after striking a 10-foot gator in Tampa area

Posted at 4:56 AM, May 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-19 08:23:28-04

A Florida motorcyclist was thrown from his bike after hitting a 10-foot-long alligator early Friday morning in Hillsborough County

Florida Highway Patrol said that the motorcyclist was heading west on State Road 674 in Wimauma when he hit the gator. He was thrown off of his bike from the impact.

The man was flown to an area hospital, but state troopers at the scene told WFTS-TV that his injuries are not life threatening.

Sources say that the 10-foot, 9-inch long gator is barely alive and is being taken by private trappers at this time, but State Troopers said that it was barely breathing.

This is the second alligator that was hit in Florida within the last 32 hours after a mother of four escaped serious injury when her SUV hit a 9-foot gator crossing Interstate 75 in Sarasota. Her car was completely totaled.

State Road 674 was closed in order to remove the bike and the gator but it has now reopened.