Richmond male charged with Reckless Homicide in death of UC motorcyclist

Indiana State Police press release

On Wednesday, May 18, at approximately 8:38 p.m., officers with the Indiana State Police and Richmond Police Department went to the 300 block of North 17th Street in Richmond, to execute an arrest warrant on Rafael Lopez for Reckless Homicide. Lopez was taken into custody without incident.

Rafael Lopez was arrested and preliminarily charged with:

• Reckless Homicide, a Level 5 Felony.
• Operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license (Prior), a class A misdemeanor.

This is concerned with the death of Samuel Weller, 47, Liberty.

According to a prior ISP press release, a preliminary investigation by the Indiana State Police Reconstruction Team determined a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle operated by Samuel Weller, was westbound on Pottershop Road. At the same time, a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan operated by Ericka Lundy, 51, of Richmond, a was eastbound on Pottershop Road. The Dodge Caravan was followed by a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Rafael Lopez, 27, of Richmond. As the two vehicles approached a hill, the Equinox began to pass the Caravan in a marked, no-passing zone for eastbound traffic. During the illegal pass, the Equinox collided head-on with the motorcycle causing Samuel Weller to be thrown from the vehicle. After the collision, debris from the Kawasaki and the Equinox struck the left side of the Caravan causing damage to it.

When Trooper Bayly arrived, he began to provide medical assistance to Samuel Weller, however, he was pronounced dead at the scene by Wayne County Coroner James Jones.  Both Ericka Lundy and Rafael Lopez did not sustain any injuries during the crash.

It was determined that Lopez was operating a vehicle without a valid Indiana driver’s license.

After his arrest on May 18, Lopez was taken to the Wayne County Jail.

If convicted of a Level 5 Felony, Lopez could receive a prison sentence ranging from two to six years in prison.