Auburn student killed by driver

Police suspect drugs involved in collisionBy Patty McAlpinLincoln News MessengerLINCOLN ? An impromptu memorial marks the place where Auburn high school student Michael Lane was struck by a car and killed while riding his bicycle to work at Quizno?s in Lincoln on Jan. 2.Three crosses have been erected and two trees planted at the intersection of Ferrari Ranch Road and Sun City Boulevard in his memory by members of his youth group from New Start Community Church.Thomas Robert Lee Jr., 34, also a Lincoln resident, was arrested at the scene of the crash on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs, driving on a suspended license and gross vehicular manslaughter. Lee sustained minor cuts and abrasions during the accident.Bail for Lee, who is being held at Placer County Jail, was increased from $50,000 to $100,000 in Placer County Court in Auburn on Monday. His arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Dept. 8. Lane, 17, was pronounced dead at Sutter Roseville Medical Center. An autopsy was completed by the Placer County Coroner?s Office on Friday. Chief Deputy Coroner Dennis Watt said the immediate cause of death is multiple blunt force trauma. He said results of toxicology tests will take four to six weeks to complete. Lane?s funeral is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Lincoln Christian Life Center, 1200 Lincoln Newcastle Highway (Highway 193). Lincoln Police Lt. Paul Shelgren said the 1994 Kia Sophia was traveling northbound on Ferrari Ranch Road while Michael was traveling southbound on his bicycle when the car crossed into the bicycle lane, hitting the bicyclist head-on. The road was closed for several hours while officers investigated the vehicle collision. The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Lincoln Police Department.About 15 youth group members including Michael?s girlfriend, Julie Murphy and neighbors went to the scene of the accident Friday afternoon to grieve, place mementos and plant trees in honor of him. One of the crosses was made by Murphy, Terri Jennison, Bud Trevyn, Jayson Smith and Michael?s brother, Adam. Taking turns, his girlfriend, his brother and his friends wrote messages in black ink. Adam wrote, ?Love ya bro.? Chrissy Braninger brought a basketball, a hunting picture and hunting hat. The flowered cross was brought by Gail Spears. Lots of flowers adorned the area.The last time Murphy saw her boyfriend was New Year?s Day. The couple shot pool in Sacramento with a couple of friends, ate at Denny?s in Roseville and went home. The two met at church about a year ago. ?He made everyone laugh,? Murphy said. ?That was his job. He had the most gorgeous smile and he was tall with bright blue eyes.?Friend Terri Jennison said she would remember how Lane made everyone laugh no matter what mood they were in and his love for hunting. Lane?s karate teacher, Bill Jenkins, placed a black belt over the white cross, awarding the belt to his student posthumously.?This is something he really would have liked,? Jenkins said of Lane?s earning of the belt. A neighbor signing the white cross called Lane ?a good kid.? He said the family has lived next door to him for 13 years and Lane played at his house with his son.Family members have come to the Lane home to support Michael?s parents, Michael senior and Theresa and brothers Adam and Conner. His grandfather, Frank McVarish of Newcastle, said everyone is ?having a really hard time.? ?The kid was just getting ready to blossom into life,? said McVarish. ?He got his first deer this year and he just got his driver?s license.?Michael was attending Maidu High School in Auburn, an independent study program of Placer Unified School District, and was previously a student at Del Oro High School. His teacher, Cynthia Van Kleeck, said, ?It?s so sad. He?s a sweet kid.??The door was wide open,? she said. ?This semester he would have gone through senior passage.?Van Kleeck said in a writing assignment about careers Lane wrote that he wanted to look at working for the state Department of Fish and Game, being an electrician or going into the military ? but he hadn?t settled on anything.?He was the kind of person you can depend on,? said Van Kleeck, ?and be successful no matter what he tried.?A memorial fund has been set up to help defray funeral expenses. Anyone interested in donating to the fund, can call Michael Storz at (916) 645-1641 or mail the donation to the Michael Lane, Jr. Memorial Fund, Placer Sierra Bank, 600 McBean Park Drive, Lincoln CA 95648.