CORSICANA, TX—
Rosalie Linsey stood in her Navarro County yard and broke down in tears. The grandmother is heartbroken for her son who is locked away in jail and for the three motorcyclists he killed in what she says was a tragic accident. "I feel very sorry for my son and for these people. They were just innocent and riding their motorcycles".But, DPS investigators say William Linsey, 55, was driving intoxicated when he came over a rise near corsicana and plowed into a group of bikers in July. Teacher Leslie McCluney, her father Terry Nelson and real estate appraiser, David Coley all died.
Unlike many cases involving allegations of intoxication, investigators say Linsey had high levels of powerful prescription drugs in his system. Officials say they found the painkiller, Oxycontin and Hydrocodone, along with anti-depressant, Zanax. Authorities say some of drugs were well above the normal, therapeutic levels.
But, Linsey says accidents do happen and this one was tragic. She says her son, who lives next door in rural Dawson, was taking the drugs to kill the pain of liver cancer. She says the retired government employee was never told by his doctor not to drive. "Maybe he should have known better, but he wasn't dizzy or drunk".
Linsey hopes the system will show her son mercy. She can't imagine him surviving what he was told was incurable cancer to then lose him to prison for what she says was an accident, not a crime. "I don't think you can blame anybody", says Linsey.
Linsey remains in the Navarro County jail charged with three counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault for injuring two other motorcyclists. He is also charged with marijuana possession, which authorities say he claims he was taking for medicinal purposes. His bond is set at $401,000.
