The Sheriff's Office has charged a 25-year-old Sale Creek man with causing the death of a motorcyclist.
Deputy Eddie Sledge, traffic investigator, arrested Dustin Levi in the death of Donald Ray Williams.
The incident that claimed the life of Donald Williams, 59, of Sale Creek, happened Friday at 1700 Daugherty Ferry Road.
The investigation into the death has been on-going and information from witnesses along with the crash reconstruction resulted in Levi being charged with reckless homicide, authorities said.
The sheriff's office said it was found that Levi had been drinking and involved in arguments with his family that continued throughout the day. He also was alleged to have been in the roadway in front of his home, running out into traffic and daring drivers to hit him.
It was also determined that Levi was in the roadway when the victim rode through. The victim's motorcycle made contact with Levi, causing him to lose control. The motorcycle left the roadway and traveled approximately 51 feet before striking a tree.
Officers said when they first arrived on the scene, Mr. Williams was beside his Yamaha motorcycle and was conscious, but disoriented. A short time later he lost consciousness, and he was airlifted by LifeForce helicopter. He was pronounced dead at Erlanger Hospital.
His wife, Sherry, said he was on his way home after attending the Nightfall Concert in downtown Chattanooga. She said he had been riding motorcycles for 46 years.
Authorities said they were told that Levi had been drinking moonshine whiskey all day and that officers had been called out to the residence earlier that day on a vehicle crash. He was described as "extremely intoxicated and unruly."
When an officer questioned him about the motorcycle wreck, he denied any knowledge of it. The officer said Levi smelled of alcohol and appeared drunk.
A woman told officers she had driven by the Levi residence and he ran out in front of her vehicle, causing her to have to swerve to miss him. She said he yelled, "Hit me, - -. Hit me."
Relatives said about 9 p.m. Levi came up to the house and said he had been hit by a "crotch rocket."
Officers said Levi had injuries to his wrist.
Authorities said the motorcyclist's injuries were not consistent with crashing into a tree at high speeds. They also said there was damage to the motorcycle, but it was not consistent with a crash into a tree.
Authorities said Levi eventually gave a statement in which he said he had an argument with his wife. He said she told him he "did not know how to be a husband."
Levi said he feared losing his family, so he started stepping out in front of cars to kill himself. He said when the motorcycle came along, he stepped in front of it. He said that caused the motorcycle to veer away from him and into a tree.
Levi had faced two domestic assault cases earlier this year.
Mr. Williams was employed at Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe as director of information services. A Vietnam veteran, he was the father of three children and had been married to Sherry for 30 years.