Motorcyclist was doing 'wheelies' before fatal crash

Hydrant · 11-24-2009, 11:17 PM

HERE IS AN UPDATE FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER

Fatal crash driver had long record
Motorcyclist had two licenses suspended

By Sharon Coolidge • scoolidge@enquirer.com • November 24, 2009

A man accused of crashing a motorcycle into a woman's car and killing her Sunday evening should never have been on the road, his driving record shows.

Indiana labeled Bobby J. Luke, 27, a habitual traffic violator in January, suspending his driver's license for five years, records show.

That's on top of a lifetime suspension of his commercial's driver's license, which was based on two prior drunken driving convictions, according to the same records.

Ohio honors out of state driver's license suspensions.

Luke, of Aurora, Ind., was arrested Tuesday on a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of Lynda Colegate, 55.

"This guy has no respect for anything," said the victim's sister Sandra Hume, 57. "I hope Hamilton County prosecutes him to the limit so he doesn't drive again. I want him to sit in prison and think about what he's done."

If convicted Luke faces up to 10 years in prison.

Colegate, 55, in a Chevrolet Cavalier, was turning left into the driveway of her home in Whitewater Township on Ohio 128 when Luke crashed into the driver's side of her car.

Deputies said Luke was speeding and driving recklessly at the time of the crash, trying to pass several vehicles in a no passing zone. A 911 phone call about the crash released by police Monday suggests Luke was doing "wheelies."

Colegate died at the scene.

Hume said the motorcycle's engine hit her sister in the head, its oil pan landing in the backseat.

Luke also has numerous traffic cases out of Kentucky and Ohio. In Kentucky, where Luke has a license that was issued in 2006, his record stretches over three pages dating to 2004, when his record was purged as required by state law.

In Hamilton County, Luke has been found guilty of traffic violations including driving an unsafe, overweight vehicle and speeding. Most recently, he got a speeding ticket on Sept. 3 and was fined $104. Despite the Indiana suspension, he was not cited for driving on a suspended license.

When Luke hit Colegate, she was returning from an ill neighbor's home, for whom she had done laundry and had just dropped it off.

Colegate was raising her two granddaughters, ages 10 and 14, Hume said. They will now be cared for by other family members, including Hume who lives in Tennessee.

"They are taking it very hard," Hume said. "One of them told us not to wear grandma's coat because it's the only thing that smells like her."

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11-24-2009, 11:17 PM	#38
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	HERE IS AN UPDATE FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER Fatal crash driver had long record Motorcyclist had two licenses suspended By Sharon Coolidge • scoolidge@enquirer.com • November 24, 2009 A man accused of crashing a motorcycle into a woman's car and killing her Sunday evening should never have been on the road, his driving record shows. Indiana labeled Bobby J. Luke, 27, a habitual traffic violator in January, suspending his driver's license for five years, records show. That's on top of a lifetime suspension of his commercial's driver's license, which was based on two prior drunken driving convictions, according to the same records. Ohio honors out of state driver's license suspensions. Luke, of Aurora, Ind., was arrested Tuesday on a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of Lynda Colegate, 55. "This guy has no respect for anything," said the victim's sister Sandra Hume, 57. "I hope Hamilton County prosecutes him to the limit so he doesn't drive again. I want him to sit in prison and think about what he's done." If convicted Luke faces up to 10 years in prison. Colegate, 55, in a Chevrolet Cavalier, was turning left into the driveway of her home in Whitewater Township on Ohio 128 when Luke crashed into the driver's side of her car. Deputies said Luke was speeding and driving recklessly at the time of the crash, trying to pass several vehicles in a no passing zone. A 911 phone call about the crash released by police Monday suggests Luke was doing "wheelies." Colegate died at the scene. Hume said the motorcycle's engine hit her sister in the head, its oil pan landing in the backseat. Luke also has numerous traffic cases out of Kentucky and Ohio. In Kentucky, where Luke has a license that was issued in 2006, his record stretches over three pages dating to 2004, when his record was purged as required by state law. In Hamilton County, Luke has been found guilty of traffic violations including driving an unsafe, overweight vehicle and speeding. Most recently, he got a speeding ticket on Sept. 3 and was fined $104. Despite the Indiana suspension, he was not cited for driving on a suspended license. When Luke hit Colegate, she was returning from an ill neighbor's home, for whom she had done laundry and had just dropped it off. Colegate was raising her two granddaughters, ages 10 and 14, Hume said. They will now be cared for by other family members, including Hume who lives in Tennessee. "They are taking it very hard," Hume said. "One of them told us not to wear grandma's coat because it's the only thing that smells like her."