Police involved crash on I-695 leaves motorcyclist dead

TOWSON, Md. - At 6'3" and 300 pounds, Haines Holloway-Lilliston was known as a bodyguard.
Early Saturday morning, nothing could shield him from being thrown off his motorcycle.

"He's like a brother to me. I've known him for so long, lived with him for so many years. It's just crazy to wake up this Sunday and he's not here. We can't joke around with him," said Jeff Snow, Holloway-Lilliston’s roommate.

Friends and family are learning what may have happened Sunday morning just before 3 a.m. The crash site was on the ramp to southbound Dulaney Valley Rd. from the Inner Loop of I-695.

Maryland State Police Spokesman Greg Shipley says a high-speed chase happened before the crash. He says Baltimore City Police Officer Timothy Beall believed Holloway-Lilliston was racing a car and that Beall believed the motorcycle was stolen.

"The preliminary investigation indicates that the patrol vehicle was behind the motorcycle when the two collided and that the motorcyclist was ejected from his motorcycle onto the hood of the police car and then onto the roadway," said Shipley.

Holloway-Lilliston was pronounced dead at the scene. Baltimore Police Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the commissioner is very concerned since Officer Beall was told to end the chase.

"The lieutenant of the Northern District asked this officer to cease and desist the pursuit of this motorcycle, and for whatever reason that communication was not followed," said Guglielmi. "We've proven time and time again that it doesn't pay to chase people unless of course they pose a significant risk to public safety."

The victim's roommates say he was never known to speed or race. In fact, they say he just started riding motorcycles this summer, and now they'll miss the man who looked out for them.

"I'm just going to live with his spirit and not going to get mad at anybody right now. I can't bring him back, so there's nothing I can do," said Snow.

Officer Beall is on paid leave. His police powers are suspended while the investigation continues. So far, no charges have been filed.

Police have not said how fast the motorcycle and police cruiser were going, but investigators say Holloway-Lilliston did not have a motorcycle license.