Bond set for man charged in motorcycle death

Police say Rock Hill 19-year-old was drinking before May 24 wreck

By Toya Graham - Toya Graham

A judge Friday set bond at $100,000 for a 19-year-old Rock Hill man police said struck two motorcycles, killing a Lancaster woman and severely injuring a Rock Hill couple.

Circuit Court Judge Lee Alford ordered that Michael Walker Reid of 408 Homeplace Road remain on house arrest except when attending church, meeting with his attorney or going to the doctor. Reid, a former pre-law student, must be accompanied by his parents, the judge said. Alford mandated that Reid be monitored at his expense by a GPS tracking system.

"He's not to drive an automobile," Alford said during court day. "He can't consume any alcohol or drugs."

Authorities on May 24 charged Reid with felony driving under the influence involving a death and two counts of felony DUI involving great bodily injury in connection with the death of Lancaster's Peggy Landry.

Injured during that collision were Ronald and Barbara Herring of Rock Hill. Ronald Herring suffered significant brain damage while Barbara Herring received 200 stitches in her leg and others in her head, according to court testimony.

Officials originally denied Reid's bond.

After court Friday, Reid's parents deferred comment to their attorney, Philip Smith.

"He set a fair bond," Smith said. "The family is happy to be able to spend some time with him. It's been a difficult 62 days for him to go through."

Barbara Herring and Peggy Landry's family members declined to speak after court, but 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett spoke on their behalf.

"The family and friends of Peggy Landry and Ronald and Barbara Herring hope the public will take two lessons from this tragedy," Brackett said. "The first being, if you've had anything to drink, please don't get behind the wheel of a car.

"As gas prices continue to rise, more and more people are driving motorcycles and scooters. People need to take extra care to look out for people driving motorcycles because they are particularly vulnerable and exposed."

Reid's charges stem from an incident that happened around 4:20 p.m. May 24 on Lesslie Highway at the intersection with Springdale Road, just southeast of Rock Hill. Landry and the Herrings were riding Harley Davidson motorcycles northbound on Lesslie Highway when they approached the intersection of Springdale Road.

"There were three motorcycles stopped at the light," Brackett said in court. "The defendant came up behind them and struck Peggy Landry. Her body flew across the intersection and landed on the other side of the road. She was dead on the scene.

"The other two individuals were critically injured," Brackett said about the Herrings.

A third motorcyclist was not injured in that collision, Brackett said.

When Reid got out of his 1994 Dodge pickup truck, Brackett said, "It was obvious that he was impaired. He informed the officers that they would find marijuana in his system as well."

About two hours after the collision, Reid's blood-alcohol level was .14, Brackett said -- almost twice the legal limit of .08.

According to court testimony, the speed limit for the area was 45 mph. Preliminary results state that Reid drove as much as 20 mph over the speed limit.

Reid remained in custody Friday at York County Detention Center.