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Billy Lane Bike Builder Arrested for DUI Manslaughter |
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On Monday Sept. 25th nationally known bike
builder and star of motorcycle TV show Biker Build off , Billy Lane
(William David Lane), was arrested , after surrendering to the Florida
Highway patrol in Cocoa Beach Florida.
Lane was charged with DWI Manslaughter, driving with a suspended license, and DWI- Serious bodily injury to another. Lane was transported to the Brevard County Jail |
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by Florida Highway Patrol officers where
he spent less than two hours before being released on $15,000 bond.
The $15,000 bail is the standard bond for these charges according to the
Florida State Police.
On the evening of Sept. 4th, Lane reportedly crossed a double yellow line, on A1A in Melbourne Beach, while driving his Dodge Pick-up truck to pass several cars. According to witnesses’, Lane hit a moped “Head On” being driven by 56 year old Gerald Morelock. Morelock a local park ranger apparently was returning to his home from work when the accident occurred. Morelock was pronounced dead at the scene. After the impact of the moped Lane ran off the road, hit numerous palm trees and overturned against a power pole. According to police accounts, Lane sustained injuries along with his passenger Erin Derrick. Both Lane and Derrick were transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center for treatment. Apparently at the hospital Lane refused a blood test. According to Police, officers held Lane down while a nurse took the blood sample. This sample was then sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcements lab in Orlando for testing. Earlier this summer Lane had a run in with law enforcement when he was arrested in North Carolina for driving on the wrong side of the road, driving without a helmet, and DUI. During that episode Lane was reported to refuse a breathalyzer test and his drivers license was suspended for one year. A court date of Oct. 5th is scheduled for those North Carolina charges. In the Florida case, Lane’s blood test came back at .192, more than twice the legal limit of .08 according to Kim Miller , Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson. Miller also said ”At the time of the crash, Lane’s license had been suspended” Miller went on to say that he should never had been behind the wheel. Kepler Funk, Melbourne attorney, who accompanied Lane when he surrendered, issued a statement saying, “We are conducting our own investigation of every aspect of the accident, including the blood alcohol level.” According to several witnesses Lane had been seen at several different local drinking establishments during the day . |
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