Marla Jones, Managing Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala.--Tyler Blaise Wilbanks accepted a plea deal in connection to the April 2, 2022, hit-and-run crash on Alabama Highway 75, which resulted in the death of 14-year-old Harley Keith Lasseter. 

Wilbanks was arrested in Pell City on April 6, 2022, and charged with manslaughter and felony leaving the scene of an accident.  He has remained in the custody of the DeKalb County Detention Center since his arrest, under a $155,000 bond. 

Wilbanks was accused of hitting Lasseter’s motorcycle, a 2003 Honda CH 80, from behind with his vehicle, a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox around 10:20 p.m. on April 2, 2022.  Authorities pronounced Lasseter dead on the scene.

Wilbanks will serve a 15-year split sentence, with three years spent in prison followed by five years probation, with credit for time served.  With the plea agreement, the charge of leaving the scene of the accident was dropped.  The sentence range for manslaughter is from two to twenty years in prison.