Billy Lane, famous for his custom choppers, appearances on TV and owner of Choppers, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida, was involved in a fatal crash last night on State Road A1A south of Melbourne Beach. Lane was driving his Dodge Ram pickup when he attempted to pass two vehicles over a double yellow line. After passing the vehicles, he failed to get back in his lane fast enough and ran head on into a 1983 Yamaha Moped, killing the driver. The truck then hit a power pole. A passenger in Lane’s pickup was also injured, Lane was treated and released.
No charges have been filed while police await the results of blood-alcohol tests.
Thanks for the tip, Justin.
UPDATE: Lane charged with DUI
Link: WFTV
DANNY T. says
no respect goes to BILLY LANE. lock him up for life.
tequila says
BY JOHN A. TORRES
FLORIDA TODAY ADVERTISEMENT
State park ranger Gerry Morelock — killed in a Labor Day wreck involving motorcycle builder Billy Lane — apparently also was driving under the influence, according to autopsy results.
But Assistant State Attorney Wayne Holmes said those blood test results should have no bearing on how the state prosecutes Lane for DUI manslaughter — a second-degree felony that could land the celebrity biker in prison for 15 years.
While Holmes would not comment on the test results, he pointed to established Florida case law.
“For many years, the general focus of the law has been on the driver of the vehicle that causes the accident,” he said. “We will be relying on state law.”
A blood test, ordered by Florida Highway Patrol officers investigating the accident, revealed that Morelock’s blood alcohol content was .133. Police say Lane, who survived the crash, had a .192 blood alcohol content — or more than twice the legal limit of .08.
He was formally charged Oct. 19.
Lane’s attorney, Kepler Funk, said Morelock’s autopsy result was not unexpected.
“This fact is not a surprise to my office and we continue to investigate the case with a fine-toothed comb,” he said.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators arrested Lane on Sept. 25 in connection with the accident that killed the Melbourne Beach resident.
Lane, who owns a shop called Choppers Inc. in Melbourne, originally was charged by the Florida Highway Patrol with driving under the influence manslaughter, driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence with serious bodily injuries.
Investigators said the wreck occurred Sept. 4, after Lane crossed a double yellow line to pass several other vehicles on State Road A1A south of Melbourne Beach. Driving a pickup truck, he struck Morelock, who was riding a 1983 Yamaha motorcycle.
Contact Torres at 242-3649 or jtorres@flatoday.net
Karen Few says
I think all of YOU SHOULD STAND back AND THINK!!!!what would you all would do if Billy was your loved one and if That ,MORELOCK person was yours Morelock lost his license and rght to drive YEARS ago!!!!!!! wtf if wrong here?Billy has never ever hurt anyone and everyone is coming down on him for this accident(((accident)) He never ever WOULD NEVER hrt a soul.Let alone Kill someone give it up all .How many of YOU HAVE DRANK A BEER ? AND DROVE!!!!!!!!!!THINK ABOUT IT!!!!! ONE BEER OR LESS AND YOU COULD HAVE SAME THING HAPPEN TO YOU!!
sweetness says
look people make mistakes and obivously billy made a big one my heart goes out to the family of the young man he killed i know if it were my brother or father uncle or cousin i would be devestated ok we all know billy is gonna serve time obviously and he’s not gonna get away with it even with all his lawyers but god bless him and god bless the family of the young man that passed away……
sweetness says
i have one more thing to add both my dad and my older brother were almost killed by a drunk driver now i was a big fan of billy’s but this changes my perspective of him since my brother and my dad were almost killed by drunk drivers now billy was a grown man and i can’t say i feel any kinda of sympathy to him after something like this so as i said god bless him and hopefully he can live with himself after this………
HMMM says
Does anyone ever think, why do celebrities drive inebriated anyway? they have money and “people” who can give them other means of getting home or to the next bar.