Judge finds Linville Dehaney Grant guilty of improper lane change after roadside collision; $100 fine ordered

Judge Tammy Long Haywood found Linville Dehaney Grant guilty Dec. 16, 2024, of violating lane-change rules after a trial that included testimony from the other driver, Bobby Willis, who said Grant’s tractor-trailer merged into a lane and struck her car.

Willis testified she was stopped in the straight-ahead travel lane when Grant’s 18-wheeler “started merging over” from the right-hand turning lane and impacted the front portion of her vehicle, causing significant damage and leaving her vehicle inoperable. Willis said the trailer struck the side of her car and punctured a tire, requiring a tow.

Grant, who drove a tractor-trailer in the area and testified in his defense, said his maneuver was a cautious, low-speed transition done because heavy, stop-and-go traffic and a blocked entrance at a warehouse forced him to use the left lane to reach a truck stop and reroute. He said he used turn signals and waited for an opening before moving.

After hearing direct and cross examination and competing witness accounts, the judge found Grant’s movement unsafe under the conditions. The state asked for a $100 fine; the judge imposed the $100 fine and assessed state surcharges for a total of $151.50. Grant was told to provide an email address so the clerk could send payment instructions and the disposition; the court will send the sentencing paperwork and receipt information to the email address on file.