Monday, October 24, 2005

Motorcyclist Convicted In Trooper's Death

"A motorcyclist whose race with a sports car on Interstate 4 led to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper's fatal crash was convicted of aggravated manslaughter by a jury on Tuesday.

[The man] was convicted of vehicular homicide and fleeing and eluding a law-enforcement officer in causing the death of 49-year-old Trooper Darryl Haywood on Oct. 2, 2004. The jury deliberated for three hours, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Williams will be sentenced at a later date. He could face up to 60 years in prison.

According to reports, Williams, on his blue 1999 Suzuki, was racing a Porsche when Haywood started to pursue them. The patrol car had a blow out, causing Haywood to lose control of his vehicle and crash into a tree. Williams was arrested later that day at an Interstate 95 rest stop in St. Johns County