St. Augustine father of 2 killed in motorcycle crash

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A local father has died following a crash late Monday night in St. Johns County.

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According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Richard Pracel, 31, of St. Augustine, was riding a motorcycle heading west on the Crescent Beach Bridge on State Road 206 at 11:14 p.m. Monday, when he lost control and overturned.

The FHP report said he was thrown from the motorcycle and was hit by a car.

Pracel died of his injuries at the crash site.

• GoFundMe to help family pay for funeral expenses

Jennifer Pracel, Richard’s wife, did not want to speak on camera at this time, but told Action News Jax he was a loving husband, son and father of two.

Pracel said he was a coach for the community flag football team and was a manager at a seafood restaurant in St. Augustine. “He was a coach, devoting his time to coaching our son and other kids in the community, manager of South Beach Grill. A loving father of two beautiful boys,” Pracel said.

Robert Gober coached with Pracel in his youth sports association, 34Sports.

“I wish we could have him come back and coach one more game for us,” Gober said.

He’ll never forget the volunteer football coach’s big smile on the field.

“If you were a kid playing on his team, you loved him because he brought the energy and excitement, win or lose, it was fun,” Gober said. “To have this happen, especially this time of the year, it just really makes you appreciate everything that you have and puts everything into perspective.”

Gober is working to organize a fundraising tournament in Pracel’s name.

If you would like to help the family, here is a link to the GoFundMe.

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