A DUI suspect Monday struck and killed a bicyclist who was a University of Georgia graduate student, Athens police said.
Ashley Block, 25, died in the accident on Athena Drive in east Athens, according to the incident report from Athens-Clarke County police. Two other bicyclists injured in the accident were taken to a local hospital. One was still there Tuesday with serious injuries. The other was treated and released.
Police said a 2012 Jeep Liberty driven by Whitney Baker Howard, 31, of Hull, crossed the center line and struck all three cyclists.
The suspect had a 2-year-old in her SUV at the time of the crash, police said.
Howard was charged with homicide by vehicle, serious injury by vehicle, DUI drugs, DUI child endangerment, failure to maintain lane and distracted driver, police said.
Howard was under the influence of what were believed to be prescription medications, police told Channel 2 Action News.
The cyclists were on a group ride organized by The Hub Bicycles, an Athens cycling shop, at the time of the accident.
The Hub said in a Facebook post Tuesday, “Tragedy struck the Monday night group road ride yesterday. We pray for the loss of our friend and for the other injured rider. We will be closed today to mourn and process the events which transpired yesterday evening.”
The co-owner of The Hub Bicycles, Brian Molloy, was the injured cyclist who was treated and released. He told Channel 2 that he remembers a black vehicle, first in the middle of the road, then heading toward his group. He said the accident seemed like it happened in slow motion.
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