COLORBEARER OF ATHENS, GEORGIA LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1987
November 2, 2017

Driver Convicted of Killing Athens Cyclist

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Whitney Baker Howard.

An Athens driver was found guilty Wednesday of plowing into a group of cyclists on Athena Drive last year, killing one and injuring at least two others.

Whitney Baker Howard, 32, was found guilty on 11 counts, according to The Red & Black, including two felony counts of homicide by vehicle in the first degree, six felony counts of serious injury by a vehicle, one count of driving under the influence of drugs, one count of improper lane change and one count of endangering the life of a child.

Howard had her then-2-year-old child in the car with her when, while on the phone and under the influence of several prescription drugs, she swerved into the cyclists, killing Ashley Block, a 25-year-old University of Georgia graduate student.

Superior Court Judge Eric Norris has not yet sentenced Howard, but homicide by vehicle alone carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison for each count, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

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