A 20-year-old was killed Friday in a motorcycle accident in Manatee County.

  • Motorcyclist killed after abandoning bike to avoid collision
  • Crashed occurred at US 19 & 49th St. in Manatee
  • Joseph Koch, 20, died on scene

Troopers said a Jeep Cherokee pulled out in front of a motorcycle in the intersection of US 19 and 49th Street E in Palmetto. 

The crash occurred around 9:20 p.m. Friday.

Troopers said the motorcyclist, Joseph Koch, 20, abandoned his bike to avoid colliding with the jeep.

Koch and the bike slid underneath the Jeep’s right side and ended up colliding with the vehicle’s undercarriage.

Koch died on scene.

The driver of the Jeep, Scott Audette, 50, was not injured in the crash. 

The crash remains under investigation.