UMATILLA, Fla.—The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a crash that killed a well-known Eustis business owner Thursday.
Aaron Belair, 57, owner of El Marie Pizzeria in downtown Eustis and part-owner of That Place, also in Eustis, was riding a 2025 Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound on State Road 19 near Lake Smith Road when he attempted to make a U-turn and collided with a Ford F-150 being driven southbound by a 51-year-old male of Umatilla, Trooper Migdalisis Garcia told Inside Lake.
The impact caused the motorcycle to slide under the Ford, throwing Belair into the median, Garcia said. He was not wearing a helmet. He was airlifted to HCA Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford with life-threatening injuries and later succumbed to those injuries. The driver of the Ford was not injured and remained on scene.
Belair was well-known and well-liked in the community, participating in many events, including “Pizza with the Police,” and Shop with a Cop;” he also provided breakfast to participants of CleanUp Eustis each month at That Place.
