Motorcycle shop owner charged with manslaughter in biker's death
TRAVIS REED
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. - A motorcycle shop owner who has appeared on the Discovery Channel's "Biker Build-Off" was arrested Monday and charged with drunken driving manslaughter in the traffic death of a biker.
William "Billy" Lane, 36, registered a blood alcohol level of 0.192 percent, more than twice the legal driving limit of 0.08. He was also driving with a suspended license for refusing to take an alcohol breath test after a June incident in North Carolina, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said.
Lane, owner of Melbourne-based Choppers Inc., attempted to pass two cars Sept. 4 in his 2006 Dodge Ram pickup despite a double-yellow line, Miller said. He struck 56-year-old Gerald Morelock, of Melbourne Beach, on his Yamaha Motorcycle, killing the man at the scene, Miller said.
Investigators are still trying to determine how fast Lane was going. Miller said Lane originally refused to submit to alcohol tests this time also, but complied when officers told him the bloodwork could be forcibly taken because the crashed killed someone.
"We are currently conducting our own investigation of every aspect of this accident, including the reported blood alcohol level," said Lane's attorney Kepler Funk.
Accompanied by his attorneys, Lane turned himself in at a Florida Highway Patrol station, Miller said. He was also charged with DUI serious bodily injury and driving on a suspended license involving a death. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail on $15,000 bond.
Choppers Inc. released a statement on Lane's behalf saying:
"We first want to say that we extend our sincere sympathy to Mr. Morelocks family. Mr. Lane also was injured in the accident, but will cooperate fully in the pending investigation as he recovers."
If convicted, Lane faces up to 15 years in prison each for DUI manslaughter and driving on a suspended license in conjunction with a death, both second-degree felonies.
The tattooed, dreadlocked man has grown acclaim building custom-made motorcycles, writing two books on the subject and appearing on several television shows, including the "Biker Build-Off" and "Monster Garage." Last year he was featured in a Discovery special on his "Blood Sweat and Gears" tour.
