Clinton Lovelace appears in Fond du Lac, WI courtroom
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WZZM/FDLreporter.com) Out of a wheelchair and looking despondent, Clinton Lovelace entered a not guilty plea Friday to multiple charges, including two counts of homicide by a vehicle while using a controlled substance.
Lovelace is accused of driving into the path of 12 Michigan motorcyclists traveling along Highway 151 north of Fond du Lac on May 31, hitting 10 of them when he crossed the centerline.
The 25-year-old Hilbert man appeared before Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Gary Sharpe while members of the motorcycle rights and safety organization Abate of Wisconsin sat in the courtroom.
The crash killed Douglas Younkers and Daniel Winsemius of Muskegon County. Eric Vandam and Douglas Williams were critically injured and five other cyclists were treated for multiple injuries.
Charges include three counts of injury by use of a vehicle while on a controlled substance, five counts of recklessly endangering safety and two counts of felony bail jumping.
Public Defender Reisha Mitchell asked Sharpe to order a competency evaluation for Lovelace, stating that he suffers from a lack of memory from a head injury sustained in the crash. She said he may not have "the ability to assist in one's own defense for lack of memory."
Members of Abate of Wisconsin said they attended the court hearing to show support for the injured bikers and their families. A fundraiser organized by Fond du Lac's Open Road Harley Davidson has raised $25,000 for victims of the crash, who were all members of the Muskegon Motorcycle Gang.
"We most definitely will keep coming to court to see this through," said Abate representative Tim Tomann. "It's heartbreaking. Everyone's back in Michigan now, but for some the recovery is long and hard. Folks lost limbs, some are going through skin grafts and are dealing with phantom pains. These are horrific things the survivors are going through."
Sharpe said a motion hearing will be scheduled within 60 days.
Watch original report on WZZM 13.