Diving into a drained pool

The civil case against Billy Lane and Dodge has been settled out of court through mediation. The mother of Melbourne Beach resident Gerald Morelock had filed a wrongful death suit against Billy Lane and Dodge back in October of 2006. The suit was filed after her son was killed while riding his Yamaha motor scooter on State road A1A after being hit head on by celebrity custom motorcycle builder Billy Lane. Witnesses say that Lane was speeding while attempting to pass 3 vehicles in a no passing zone clearly marked by double yellow lines on the highway.

Billy Lane was driving a 2006 Dodge pick up loaned to him by the DaimlerChrysler when he hit Morelock head on killing him instantly. After the second meeting behind closed doors and hours of talks between attorneys, Billy Lane and the family of Gerald Morelock, the case was settled on last Monday. The news of the settlement was released late Thursday and the first story of the settlement can be found on my blog at www.mikeodom.name. Later in the day other forms of media began to break the story including in one of the local newspapers, Florida Today. The story in Florida Today read:

DaimlerChrysler, chopper builder Billy Lane and the family of a Sebastian Inlet park ranger killed in a Labor Day accident that police say was caused by drunk-driving have reached a confidential settlement, the deceased man’s family said today.“We would like to personally show our gratitude and heart-filled thanks to all of the people throughout the nation that have showed us their support, love and caring,” Byron Morelock, brother of Gerald Morelock, said in a statement signed by the family.“My family may not have made it through these hard times if it wasn't for your caring and sympathy,” he said. The settlement came 10 months after Morelock's mother sued Lane, 37, and DaimlerChrysler -- which provided Lane with the Dodge pickup truck he was driving -- over the fatal crash in which police said Lane crossed a double-yellow line and hit Gerald Morelock's mini-Yamaha motorcycle. The suit alleged Lane, who police say had a blood-alcohol level of .192 the night of the accident, and DaimlerChrysler, which the family said used Lane's fame to advertise its vehicles despite prior driving citations on Lane's record, were liable for auto negligence. Byron Morelock said it took about 10 hours of “grueling” debate Monday before an agreement was reached. No details of the agreement were made public. Lane still faces a criminal trial in which he could be sentenced to a maximum 15 years in prison if convicted of DUI manslaughter. A trial date has not been set.

Floriday Today breaking news forums quickly beagn to fill up with comments. The news also began to spread across the internet in forums and other blogs and the hateful comments and ignorance of what happened began to spread all over again as it did nearly a year ago. It never ceases to amaze me how many people will jump in on a story like this and make comments that show they have no clue what they are talking about. People go off on a hate rampage on both sides making comments that hurt those who were involved. Throughout this whole ordeal I have seen so many things said about the issue when the person speaking really had no knowledge of the entire story. Rumors being posted as though it were news or from some type of inside information source. Opinions based on hearsay and some of the same rumors. The whole thing just has gotten out of hand and it is not over yet with Lane still facing the DUI Manslaughter charges.

I try to ignore all of the hate that has flowed in and out of all the comments on blogs and forums from bothe sides. The one place were comments really show their ignorance is when they lash out about Dodge being included in the suit. To me these people are as likely to jump into a drained pool for lack of checking to see if there is water there first!

So with the civil action closed, I am hoping to see something positive come from this.

North Carolina Court says Billy Lane was not to be drinking and driving

As part of the provisions of the $1,000.00 bond that Billy Lane had been released on from the June DUI arrest in North Carolina, Billy Lane was not to drink and drive. This became a major issue today as Choppers Inc. Owner, Billy Lane appeared at the Rowan County Courthouse at 2 p.m. today.

A clean shaved Billy Lane appeared before the Judge today in a designer suit that covered all of his tattoos. With his dreads tucked under the suit, Billy Lane pleaded in his case for refusal to submit to a sobriety test after being pulled over by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The arresting officer had pulled Mr. Lane over originally for driving on the wrong side of the road and not wearing a helmet. No further report of the courts action today have been reported.

A story told of a tragedy in the making

The death of motorcyclist Gerald Morelock on September 4th in Melbourne Beach, Florida has been in the eye of the motorcyclist community for the past few weeks. Many have even criticized the amount of discussion on the subject siting that it was due to the celebrity involvement. I have to agree with to a certain extent when it is pointed out that most of the articles mentioned more about the celebrity involved not Gerald Morelock, the victim and his family that lost a loved one.

In all of the articles that I have read, very few had the victim, Gerald Morelock as the subject matter. Most of the media and articles called more attention to the fact that famous chopper builder Billy Lane was involved in a fatal accident. Some article headlines even led one to believe that it was Billy that was killed. While the family of Morelock and most speaking was that of Byron Morelock, Gerry's Brother made very little mention to the cause of death in relation to Billy Lane.

Billy Lane was found injured along with the passenger of the Dodge pickup that he was driving the night of the accident that left a motorcyclist dead at the scene. Witnesses to the accident claim that they saw the custom black Dodge pickup cross a double yellow line on south Hwy A1A while trying to pass two vehicles. It was Mr. Lanes negligence by using the no passing zone that caused the death of Morelock who was riding a 1983 Yamaha Motor Scooter. Billy Lane and Passenger were released from the hospital after being treated for injuries, while the sad news of Gerry Morelock's death was being reported to the members of his family.

As the news quickly spread of the chopper builder being involved in an fatal accident that he was at fault, so did the news that Billy Lane was reportedly impaired by alcohol. Questions were raised as to the reason that he was not immediately arrested, along with allegations of him receiving special treatment. However, the Florida Highway Patrol made it perfectly clear that there were procedures that had to be followed in order to process the correct charges against Mr. lane. There was little doubt that Billy Lane had made a irrational decision to attempt the pass in the area that was clearly marked. But the question still remained, had he been drinking.

The forums and blogs of the motorcycle community were alive with speculation as to what happened and what the causes were. There is no longer a speculation as to whether Billy Lane was intoxicated after yesterdays arrest and charges filed of DUI, Driving While license Suspended and Manslaughter. Billy reportedly turned himself in to the Florida Highway Patrol escorted by his attorneys. He was released on $15,000.00 bail less than two hours later. The wait was over. Gerald's brother Byron Morelock was quoted as saying that a lot of tension had been relieved after the news of Billy Lanes arrest.

Many members of the motorcycle community, including myself, where dismayed at the fact that Billy remained silent about what happened. Then, following the arrest and charges being filed, Choppers Inc. the Melbourne Florida based motorcycle shop that Billy Lane owns released a statement. A statement that many hoped would say more. Instead the statement released by Choppers Inc. on Billy's behalf was only three lines long stating that we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Gerald Morelock. That Billy was injured in the accident as well and that he would cooperate fully in the pending investigation as he recovers.

Following today's arrest more news broke and the story unfolded of how Billy Lane had allegedly been drinking all day and had visited two local drinking establishments while he and the passenger of the accident rode around on one of his motorcycles. Later in the evening the two returned to the shop to drop off the motorcycle and started off to the home of Billy Lane in Melbourne Beach in one of his custom Dodge pickups. It was on the way home and not much more than a mile from his home that the deadly tragedy happened. To add to problems, the FHP has stated that Billy refused to give in to a blood test at the scene and again later at the hospital. In fact it is alleged that troopers had to hold him down while nurses drew blood for the test. It was only after yesterday's arrest that these facts came to light. It was only after the arrest that any statement was made from Billy.

Billy was on a streak of bad luck and wrong doing in the past couple of months that started when the motorcycle he had built for this year's Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off caught fire only a few miles from the final destination of Laconia Bike Week. The gas tank had been leaking for miles and finally caught fire causing the custom chopper with his special hubless wheel not to make it.

It was not long after that North Carolina Police pulled Billy Lane over for driving on the wrong side of the road and without a helmet. It is illegal to ride without a helmet in North Carolina. The arresting officer sites that he detected the smell of alcohol after making the traffic stop and Mr. Lane refused to take a breathalyser. It was for this reason that Mr. lanes drivers license was suspended.

Now in early September, a mans life was ended early, taken from the family and friends that knew and loved him. Gerald Morelock, 56, of Melbourne Beach used to visit the Sebastian Inlet park as a kid with his family. He loved to play the guitar and dreamed of one day moving from his hometown in Ohio to live in Sebastian. Gerry Morelock got his wish and even worked at the Sebastian Inlet Park where he spent many of his off hours fishing at the inlet. His family and friends gathered on September 17th at the inlet park to pay their respects and tell stories about Gerry's life and love of the area. A sad and tragical ending to this article. The motorcycle community has suffered the loss of two members by this happening. My prayers and sympathy for the family and friends of Gerald Morelock, may he rest in peace. I can only hope that from this point on, Billy Lane will do the right thing and I pray for his forgiveness and healing. The fact remains that what happened was created by not thinking and not doing the right thing. Since the results of the blood tests have returned with over double that allowed by the state of Florida it shows that Mr. lanes judgement was wrong from the moment he got behind the wheel.

Sources:

Motorcycle designer Lane charged with DUI in fatality
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060926/NEWS01/60926008/1075

A sad day and a loss to the motorcycle community

Motorcycle shop owner charged with manslaughter in biker's death

Large crowd eulogizes lost friend
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060918/NEWS01/609180315

Related:

Auto Negligence claim filed against Billy Lane and Dodge

When heroes become bad guys

Billy Lane faces DUI manslaughter charges

Hearing date set for Billy Lane in Florida DUI/Manslauter case