Man charged with driving motorcycle into parade crowd

George Hunter / The Detroit News

EASTPOINTE -- A Clinton Township man who drove his motorcycle into a crowd during a parade Sunday, injuring 11 people, was charged today with three counts of drunken driving resulting in injuries and fleeing the scene of a crime.

Richard Banker, 51, was intoxicated when he drove his Harley Davidson over a curb and into a crowd at the city's annual Veteran's Day parade on Gratiot, police said. Among those injured were five children, police said.

After the crash, Banker failed a Breathalyzer test with a .15 blood-alcohol level -- nearly double the legal limit for intoxication -- and was arrested.

He has a prior alcohol-related arrest in Fraser and was just released from probation in September, police said.

Banker, who was not represented by an attorney in court Monday, rode in the parade with a group of other Harley-Davidson owners. As the group approached city hall, near Evergreen and Gratiot, he lost control of his motorcycle, drove it over a curb and into a crowd that was watching the parade.

A Cub Scout leader was able to prevent more injuries by pushing several children out of the way of the careening motorcycle, police said.

District Court Judge Noreen Redmond set bond at $150,000 cash or surety. A preliminary examination is set for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006.

You can reach George Hunter at (586) 468-7396 or ghunter@detnews.com.