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Witnesses help police catch man accused of hitting, killing motorcyclist

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have arrested a man they said struck and killed a motorcyclist late Thursday night near uptown Charlotte before driving off from the scene.

Officers told Channel 9 that around 9:30 p.m. they responded to the crash on the Brookshire Freeway, near Interstate 77.

PHOTOS: Motorcyclist killed in Brookshire hit-and-run

Investigators said James Williams, 49, was on his Harley-Davidson, driving north on the Brookshire when he lost control of his motorcycle and laid it down on its side before falling off it and sliding on the pavement.

Officers then said a Ford F-150 driven by 47-year-old Anthony Houser ran over Williams and did not stop.

MEDIC pronounced Williams dead at the scene.

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(James Williams)

Two witnesses in a vehicle behind Houser followed him, keeping the F-150 in sight and relayed their location to 911 operators.

Houser turned onto Interstate 85 south and entered Gaston County, where officers with the Gaston County Police Department were able to pull him over near exit 19.

Houser was screened for impairment and arrested for DWI. He was the taken to CMPD headquarters where he was interviewed and then charged with felony death by vehicle and felony hit and run.

Channel 9 spoke with Williams’ fiancée, who said she is heart-broken.

“He was a safe rider so I don't understand how any of this happened,” Shanee Pullen said.

Pullen told Channel 9 that the couple has a young daughter and another child on the way, and that Williams was riding with his brothers when the crash happened.

The outbound lanes of the Brookshire were blocked for hours while police investigated but reopened overnight.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

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