An 85-year-old Florida man whose arrest went viral after deputies accused him of driving 110 mph and racing another driver is now speaking publicly about the case, saying the fallout has changed his retirement and left him feeling trapped at home.
WKMG News 6 investigator Mike DeForest reported that William Bosworth, now 86, pleaded no contest after his June arrest in Lake County, where deputies said they caught him racing a red Corvette on U.S. 27 near Leesburg while also violating Florida’s Dangerous Excessive Speeding law, commonly known as the “Super Speeder” law.
Bosworth does not deny that he was driving extremely fast that night, but he continues to dispute the racing allegation and says the punishment has been much harder on him than he expected.
Viral Arrest Turned Into A Serious Legal Problem
When Bosworth was first stopped, bodycam footage showed him sitting in his Nissan 350Z while deputies questioned him about the speed and whether he understood the state’s excessive speeding law.
The arrest quickly spread online, in part because of his age and the unusual image of an elderly man being accused of street racing.
Bosworth told DeForest that he understands why people found the story amusing, but said the situation has never felt funny from his side.
“It’s funny, but it’s not funny,” he said. “I know it’s serious.”
The attention surrounding the case may have made Bosworth into an internet curiosity, but the legal consequences were real. If convicted by a jury, he faced up to a year in jail for racing and an additional 30 days for excessive speeding.
That possibility ultimately shaped his decision to resolve the case without going to trial.
Bosworth Says He Pleaded No Contest Because He Feared Jail
Bosworth told News 6 he reluctantly pleaded no contest because he did not want to risk spending time behind bars.
Under the plea agreement, he received one year of supervised probation, a $500 fine and a requirement that he complete an advanced driver improvement course.
He also said he has spent more than $7,000 in legal costs.
For someone in retirement, that kind of expense can become a serious burden even before the other penalties are considered.
Bosworth said the yearlong suspension of his driver’s license has been the hardest part because it has taken away much of his independence.
“I can’t do anything,” he told DeForest.
He said he can no longer drive himself to the store, go golfing or easily visit friends, and the rules in his gated retirement community also prevent him from legally operating his golf cart without a valid driver’s license.
“I’m not in jail,” Bosworth said. “But I’m behind bars in my house.”
His Nissan Now Sits In The Garage
The 2006 Nissan 350Z that played a central role in the case now sits parked at Bosworth’s home.
The car has a convertible top and customized seat covers bearing his name, and Bosworth made clear that cars have been an important part of his life for decades.
“I’ve liked cars all my life,” he said, adding that he competed in legal drag racing when he was younger.
He also acknowledged that he has occasionally driven fast in the Nissan, saying speed itself has never frightened him.
“I have no fear of speed. Never did,” Bosworth told DeForest.
When DeForest asked whether he could have been going 110 mph on the night of the arrest, Bosworth did not deny it.
“Possibly,” he said. “I would not say I wasn’t.”
That admission is important because Bosworth is not arguing that he was traveling near the speed limit. His dispute is much narrower: he says he was not racing the Corvette.
Bosworth Says He Sped Up To Avoid The Corvette
Bosworth told News 6 that he was driving alongside the red Corvette when the other car allegedly swerved into his lane.
According to his account, he feared the Corvette might hit him, so he accelerated to get away.
“I didn’t know if he was going to ram me or what he was going to do,” Bosworth said. “My thought was, ‘Get away from him ASAP.’”
He said he was only hard on the accelerator for about six to 10 seconds.
Deputies saw the situation differently and accused both drivers of racing.
According to DeForest, the Corvette driver, 57-year-old Philip Signorino, was accused of reaching 125 mph.
Signorino has pleaded not guilty to racing and dangerous excessive speeding and was awaiting trial at the time of the report.
The disagreement over what actually happened on the road is what makes Bosworth’s case more complicated than a simple speeding story. He accepts that he was going very fast, but insists the reason was avoidance rather than competition.
“One Size Does Not Fit All”
Bosworth told DeForest that he does not oppose Florida’s Super Speeder law itself.
In fact, he said he believes the law serves a legitimate purpose.
“I think it’s a good law,” Bosworth said. “But it should be appropriately used. One size does not fit all.”
His criticism is therefore less about the existence of tougher penalties for dangerous speeding and more about how prosecutors and courts apply them in individual cases.
That argument may not change the outcome of his case, but it helps explain why Bosworth feels the punishment has gone too far.
He said the restrictions have also placed additional pressure on his wife because she now has to handle transportation and errands that he previously managed himself.
“We don’t go out to eat no more,” he said.
At another point, he described himself as a “dead man walking,” language that shows how deeply he feels the loss of independence.
Retirement Has Changed Completely
Bosworth said the arrest and plea agreement have forced him to change the way he lives day to day.
He is currently trying to follow every term of probation and hopes his driving privileges can be restored earlier than scheduled.
“I’m walking on eggshells,” he told DeForest. “I’m the best boy you could be.”
His comments reflect a striking contrast with the viral version of the story, where the focus was mostly on the novelty of an 85-year-old accused of racing at triple-digit speeds.
Once the jokes fade, the case becomes more ordinary and more serious: a defendant facing criminal charges, mounting legal expenses and a loss of mobility that has reshaped his retirement.
Bosworth continues to insist that he was not racing, even while acknowledging that he may have been traveling around 110 mph.
For now, he remains on probation, his Nissan remains parked, and his own account of that night is still at odds with the one deputies used to justify the arrest.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
