Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994                   TAG: 9404210204
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PRICES FORK                                LENGTH: Medium

ACCIDENT VICTIM DIDN'T KNOW BIKE WAS STOLEN, FRIEND SAYS

Raymond Joel Bywater Jr., 20, who was driving on a suspended license, died after his motorcycle crashed into a car driven by a Blacksburg woman.

State police say Bywater was driving more than 80 mph after a state trooper had tried to stop him for crossing a double yellow line to pass other vehicles headed into Blacksburg on Prices Fork Road. The wreck occurred near M&M Tire Co. shortly after Bywater had left a 25 mph school zone at Prices Fork Elementary School.

Bywater had been convicted only a month ago in the Blacksburg division of Montgomery County General District Court of driving under the influence and driving while his license was suspended. He was ordered to attend the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program and was restricted to driving to and from that meeting, said Trooper Eddie Bowen.

Amy Wilson, whose boyfriend was Bywater's roommate, said Bywater had told her he bought the motorcycle from a friend in New York. She said she's sure he didn't know it was stolen.

Wilson said Bywater may have been trying to make it to a test at New River Community College and then turned around to return to Blacksburg because he had forgotten something.

"He was my best friend," Wilson said. "... He was going to school over at New River to take a test and he was going to stop by my house and he just never made it there."

Bywater had left Virginia Tech and his engineering major this semester but planned to return as an accounting major this summer, Wilson said.

Wilson said she was upset by news reports that referred to the stolen motorcycle and the high rate of speed. Bywater had owned the motorcycle for six or seven months.

"It's not like him at all," Wilson said, calling Bywater a person who was full of life and very giving to friends who needed anything. "I just don't want anyone to think anything bad about him," Wilson said. "Whatever he could do for anyone, he did."

Wilson and her boyfriend were leaving Wednesday afternoon to attend a wake for Bywater on Long Island today.

Trooper Bowen said the motorcycle was stolen from Suffolk County, N.Y.

The crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. as Bywater was traveling toward Blacksburg. Trooper Randy Tompkins said he saw Bywater cross the center yellow lines to pass other cars and that Bywater sped away when he tried to stop him.

As Bywater crested a small hill, he crossed into the opposite lane of traffic, hitting a car driven by Catina B. Slusser, 22, of Blacksburg. Slusser was still in Roanoke Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, but had been moved out of a neuro-trauma unit to a "step-down" floor where she was listed in stable condition, a nursing supervisor said.

Police Sgt. Frank Duffy said Bywater's motorcycle was traveling at such a high rate of speed it became airborne before striking Slusser's car. Bywater landed on the road about 130 feet away, according to Bowen, who is an accident reconstruction expert.

Tompkins was following Bywater but not at the same speed, Duffy said. The motorcycle "was getting away from him."

New River Editor Elizabeth Obenshain contributed to this article