[hotroadking]

Yes that was my point it may come out that he did everything that was printed and for that he should pay, especially if drunk,

Just like you said that lady did something stupid, and it could have injured or killed you, me anyone we've all been through that.

Thing is society says because we choose to ride we select to accept the option that our fate is somewhat our issue because we choose to be on a motorcycle, regardless of fault.

There was an article on another board where a 19 year veteran deputy pulled out of his drive in front of a bike and killed the rider. He's on probation, got jailed, etc.

I think we look at it as an assault on our freedom to ride, yet people that don't ride look at it as our fault if we are killed or hurt because we choose to ride. It's not right but that seems to be the case when you talk with people that don't ride.

Tain't pissed or upset just making points so don't sweat it.

[Killer-B]

Yepper, Don’t sweat the petty things,,, pet the sweaty things.

[SPORSTERBOY]

Any Word On The Bac Test? Ya Know He Wasnt Sober!

[hotroadking]

He had a 22 year old honey in the truck, might have been distracted by something else

[gator]

Im sorry for Billy's reckless actions, he just got a ticket in Salisbury, NC in July,06 for DUI, he was stopped for not wearing a helmet, which is required in NC. That led to the DUI. I doubt he has gone to court for the NC DUI, now this, he has been on a path to distruction for some time...wtf?

Lets give the victim (Gerald V. Morelock) an idenity, something most papers and reporters have failed to do....RIP and God bless his family...it could have been anyone of us..


As a kid, Gerry Morelock vacationed with his family at Sebastian Inlet every Christmas.
The family traveled from their Dayton, Ohio, home to the inlet for swimming and fishing. Morelock always said he would move to the Sebastian area when he got older. Not only did his wish come true, but he also worked there as a park ranger for the past seven years.
Gerald V. Morelock's life was cut short Sunday night when he was struck head-on by a pickup that was passing cars illegally on State Road A1A, police said. He was 56.
"He loved the Sebastian Inlet," said his brother Byron, a 52-year-old financial adviser from Indialantic. "We fished there with our dad. Being able to live around there and work there was the perfect heaven for him."
The deadly crash happened about 9 p.m. Monday south of Melbourne Beach and near Ballyshannon Street. Investigators said the impact came after Billy Lane -- a custom motorcycle builder featured on Discovery Channel's "Biker Build-Off" and "Monster Garage" -- crossed a double yellow line to pass two other vehicles.
Lane's custom-painted black Dodge Ram pickup slammed head-on into Gerald Morelock as he rode a moped, officials said.
This was not Lane's first road incident this year.
In June, he was arrested by the North Carolina Highway Patrol and charged with drunken driving. Police said Lane was riding a motorcycle the wrong way on a two-lane road without a helmet. Lane refused a Breathalyzer test. The Rowan County clerk of courts confirmed that he is to appear in court on Oct. 5.
Under investigation
Morelock, who was wearing a helmet, was killed instantly in Monday's collision, which the Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. A blood-alcohol test was conducted on Lane and sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement state lab in Orlando for evaluation. Test results, part of the traffic homicide investigation, could take up to eight weeks to return, although agents are asking for the tests to be given priority.
No charges have been filed in the case.
"Just the fact that he crossed the double yellow line and hurt somebody, let alone killed him is enough. There is no doubt in my mind that if it was me or you we would be in jail," Byron Morelock said.
However, Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Miller said investigators are making sure they build a strong case before filing any charges.
"Let's say we write him a ticket for crossing the yellow line and he goes to court. He could pay a fine and that would be it. We couldn't go back and charge him with the most serious charge in this case," Miller said. "The goal is not to put him in jail as soon as possible. We have to prove criminal intent, that he knowingly passed the double line and that alcohol was involved."
'The coolest cat'
Byron Morelock described his brother as a sensitive, fun-loving man who had quit his job as a child psychologist because he hated to see children suffer.
"Gerry was just the coolest cat," said Morelock. "He could really make you laugh."
Byron Morelock said he was awakened when police rang his doorbell at 3 a.m. Tuesdaymorning.
"They told me he was brutally killed," Morelock said. "I was distraught, and the police stayed with me for an hour. They assured me the truth would come out. I just couldn't believe it. We were close."
'It was too late'
Marilyn Howe, a Melbourne Beach resident, said she witnessed the accident as she made her way home from a soccer function for her two children. Howe said she was in the lead car that investigators believe Lane was attempting to pass.
"It was pretty dark but still lit up. I just saw (Lane's) headlights coming up in my rearview mirror," Howe said. "I also noticed there was a little motorcycle coming up and then a horrific crash. It was just horrible."
Howe said she went back to see if she could provide CPR to Morelock, whose body was sprawled on the side of the road near his moped.
"It was too late," Howe said.
Morelock's mother, Dolores Morelock, still resides in Dayton, along with his sister, Dawn, and her family.
"Gerry has countless loved ones here that are grieving his loss," Dawn Morelock wrote in an e-mail. "We all are in total shock and disbelief over the tragic accident that took his life. We will never forget him."
Fishing and music
Morelock spent much of his free time taking his 16-year-old nephew Sean snook fishing at the inlet and playing his guitar.
"He was good at fishing, but what I'll miss most is just seeing him and hanging out with him," Sean Morelock said. "He knew my friends and he would talk to us and give us advice."
While he played classic rock tunes a few times at the Sebastian Beach Inn, Morelock loved playing for those he loved. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Morelock would take his guitar over to his brother's home and strum all night for the family.
On Tuesday night, Byron Morelock began clearing his brother's home.
"He was a great musician, and, man, when I had to move about 10 guitars out of his house, it really made me sad."

[scooter]

Not to make light of this or foment any disrespect....but I was amazed to learn that Mr. Morelock was on a MOPED. I saw the picture of the truck, and I assumed that a touring bike was hit. That is a huge amount of damage for that type of vehicle to cause....the forces involved must've been awesome.

scoot

[DeathWind]

I believe that a most of the damage was from hitting the pole after he murdered Mr. Morelock. There would have been front end damage from the moped, but not that much. Then again, I have seen some major damage to smaller vehicles from motorcycles, but that was due to the motorcyles (500-600lb) high rate of speed (80-120mph) hitting slow moving or stopped vehicles.

[gator]

All the newspapers that reported this keeps saying he was wearing a helmet, wtf, any helmet is a false hope for anyone or anything on the road.

It makes somebody feel better about what you are doing. The only difference it will make is being able to have a open coffen or not. I'll be cremated, no helmet needed, and I don't need someone telling me how it will save my life, you fall, you get lucky or you don't.

[SK]

I came across an accident two weeks ago in the mountains where a guy on a FLH ran right off the road into the rocky mountainside. Not sure how he's doing right now, but the helmet saved his life at the time. He'd have been dead at the scene otherwise. I know if you get broadsided by a car or wipe-out at a high rate of speed that you'll probably die anyway, but a helmet can save your life in many instances. Doesn't mean I advocate helmet laws (I believe in choice), but they do work most of the time.

[gator]

I agree with you SK, there is that chance that it will make the difference, thats why I don't bitch about having to wear one. I just like to have the choice..

[FLHTbiker]

I really don't think that at a helmet would have helped much in a head on of this type. I still don't understand or maybe I missed it but what has happened to the out come of the investigation.

[jason]

I was just reading what ya all had written about the Billy Lane story.
Last friday night sept 15 in Rockhill sc a man was walking across int.77
and a crotch rocket struck him and killed the man walking and broke the motorcycle in half,i thought that was crazy

[SK]

A 19 year old kid was taking motorcycle lessons at a school parking lot this past week in Las Vegas trying to learn how to pass the DMV riding test. Why an inexperienced rider was on a Suzuki Hayabusa (borrowed..didn't have his own bike yet) is beyond me. Out of sight from everyone, he lost control of the bike and was thrown into a pole and killed (not even on the street yet!). Why don't these young guns ride 250cc bikes to learn on just doesn't make sense.

[gumby321]

As not just a biker,Billy Lane is a high profile biker. The thing is we all get lumped in together. They never remember the good only the bad bikers are involved in. He should know better then to do what he does. Weather he was loaded or not. To pass over a double yellow line is just plain wrong.I pray for the man and the family and friends who lost his life from a foolish act. Billy Lane is just another example of what fame and fortune can do to a person.
Just as a biker he should have known better. I know I see a harley sticker on a car or truck. That person in that car or truck will be using his or her directional signals. They know that a bike just might be in their blind spot. Or coming up at a high rate of speed. 99% of the time I will bet that another biker will be using those directionals.
This is just bad not just for Billy and the loss of an inacent man and his family and friends. Unfortunatly we all look bad. Please people think about what you are doing out there. Whats another 5 min. to get to where you are going.
All I can ask of everyone who reads this. Please think about what the possabilitys are. Think about the repercutions of your actions. You all or most of you all must have kids. Think about them before doing anything stupid.
This has happened way to many times to people we know and people we don't know. I am sure it's happened to most of us. We were just lucky that we didn't wind up dead or in Billy Lanes shoes. I can tell you from experience. Being in lock up is no fun. I know we all lived our lives in the 60's and 70's. Most of us are sovivers of those years. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT !!!!

[scooter]

Again, two words for why I myself wear a lid.

"Rocks" and "Ouch, that effin' HURT"



scoot

[gumby321]

Hlemet no Helmet if that guy had an armered suit on Billys truck still would have killed. Choice is what we had in this country for many years. I am from New York orig. In the mid 70's I moved to calif. where there were not helmet laws. I ride down to Mexico with 25 other bikers and wives and others girlfriends. As soon as we are inside Mexico. Most not all had taken off their helmets.
It's called freedom, some of have fought for our freedom and some are still fighting today. The boys can make a desision to join up. I think grown men and women should be able to make a choice to wear or not to wear. What is happening is there are lobbyists in washington. Lobying for every single insurance thing to save us from ourselves.
You all know that is crap. It's about money and how they think. They tell us to wear our seatbelts but there is so many examples of what washington is doing. giving themselves raises and big raises for them and their wives.

PORK BARREL SPENDING in alaska the gov. wants a bridge. the only problem is the bridge leads nowhere. She just is playing the game like they all do for money. money is the bottom line in washington.
Do you think the bush family cares if the gas goues to $5.oo a gal? I don't think so... They all have stock in oil.So what he gets from it and his family gets is royalties. They don't care about us working stiffs. They care about big biz and taking care of each other. I am mad as hell and I have to take it.
I am out of here. gumby peace out

[CD]

Hmm, this thread is drifting quite a bit so if you want to discuss other issues like helmets please start a new thread in the soap box forum.

I read a lot of forums and a common thread amongst the posts is the desire to hang Billy Lane on the spot. Many of the posters will shore up their opinions based on the theory that they have never drove under the influence, passed in a no passing zone or ever got frustrated behind the wheel or handle bars so therefore Billy Lane is an automatic bad guy. Most of these posters make the assumption that the news reports have got it right and have convicted them in their own mind.

If it was so cut and dried, he would've been charged on the spot or before being released from the hospital. Perhaps the picture is not totally clear and until this goes to trial we will not hear what the witnesses have to say.

What if it was you who made a terrible mistake? Would you say good bye to your family and go down the county lock up and tell them you want a cell? If you say "yes" I'll call B.S. There is a little thing called the fight or flight instinct. When you are put in a situation where you are in danger such as combat or being assaulted, your brain is telling you it's fight or flight. Do you think for one second that this is a different situation for Billy? Wouldn't you want the chance to be heard?

We are all up in arms over this terrible incident. How many of us remember the recent accident in Florida where a senior citizen ran over a bunch of people? Is she in jail? Why not? Was she physically impaired due to poor eyesight or reactions or on mediation that affected her judgement? Why isn't she in jail? Where is the continuing coverage?

Oh wait, she isn't a high profile citizen she is just a poor, old lady that is sorry....

If Billy Lane did this intentionally and there was no vehicular failure that caused him to swerve, he should be hit with the full enchilada and more severely so if he was under the influnce period.

IMHO, we should hold personal judgement until the facts come out. Until then, we are speaking from only what the news has spoon fed us. Let the facts come out then make your judgement. You would want it to be the same treatment for yourself.

[scooter]

You're right, CD, on both counts.

Drifting and judgement. (Sometimes the same thing, no?)

I'll go over to polls and get a helmet one going...cya!

scoot

[gumby321]

Either or TICKS me off. We all can have an opinion but don't jump to conclusions. All I know is I don't care who it is. I have a 94 year old father living in fla. and he still has his licence. He was a real bad driver way back when and I can't imagine what the roads are like now with him on them. The day I got my licence he never drove me again.
I wouldn't get into a car with him driving then or now. He is just a bad driver. Mr Lane should know better thats all I am saying. Just like you have these guys leaving a bar and doing wheelies. DUMB I refuse to ride with a guy like that. I will not jeperdize my life or anyone elses. A mistake can happen anytime. Stupidity you can control.. Gumby Peace

[Killer-B]

Well, here ya go...

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbc...GNEWS/60925014