Friends, family mourn death of loved ones in Seminole County crash on East State Road 46

GENEVA, Fla. — Family and friends are devastated by losing two loved ones over the weekend.

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A drunk driver crashed into a motorcycle, killing the driver and passenger Saturday night.

It happened on East State Road 46 near Rest Haven Road, just outside the Alibi Bar.

“We’re a family, so it’s hard,” said Michelle Winn, the manager of the Alibi. “It’s really hard.”

Winn said she hasn’t been able to sleep since her best friend Joanne Talley was killed in the crash.

Read: FHP: Man driving with girl, 9, accused of DUI manslaughter after crash kills 2 motorcyclists

“Joanne- she was a light,” said Winn. “She lit this place up every time she came in the door.”

Joanne was a bartender at the Alibi. She and Winn would spend much of their time off together. Whether it was running errands or fishing.

“Her soul was just so beautiful,” said Winn.

Joanne was riding a motorcycle with Richard Mills when the crash happened.

Read: 2 dead after crash in Seminole County, firefighters say

“His personality is like no one I’ve ever known in my life,” said Winn. “We love Ricky.”

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ricky and Joanne were driving the motorcycle on State Road 46 when they stopped to turn into the Alibi Bar driveway. That’s when a pick-up truck hit them from behind and killed them.

A memorial has been set up along the road to honor the couple.

“They loved each other so much,” said Winn.

The man behind the wheel of the pick-up, according to investigators, was 40-year-old Michael Thompson.

He had his first appearance in front of a judge Monday afternoon.

He’s facing two counts of DUI manslaughter.

He also had a nine-year-old inside his truck at the time of the crash.

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This isn’t Thompson’s first run-in with the law. He has a criminal history dating back to 2001, which includes another DUI arrest in 2014.

“I’m disgusted,” said Winn. “He should never have been behind that truck. Never.”

Two other vehicles crashed as a result of the initial crash, including another motorcyclist who stopped to help. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

While family members of the victims didn’t want to go on camera, they did tell us they were grieving the loss.

“We’re going to miss both of them,” said Winn.

Thompson’s bond was set at $51,000 and his next court date is set for November.

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