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Conviction for the Death of UGA Student Upheld

University of Georgia Franklin College

The Georgia Court of Appeals today upheld the conviction of Whitney Howard in the death of a UGA student . 

 

According to a news release from Acting District Attorney Brian Patterson, on September 12, 2016, Howard was driving under the influence of a combination of drugs when she drove into cyclists riding on Athena Drive. Howard struck and killed Ashley Block and seriously injured another cyclist. Block was carried on the hood of Howard’s vehicle for a while before falling off and down an embankment.  Howard’s then 2-year old daughter was also in the vehicle during the collision. A nurse on the scene was able to provide medical assistance, but Ashley Block died at the scene. 

Credit Online Athens
Convicted Whitney Howard

The release states Howard claimed that she dozed off and that the cyclists struck her vehicle, and she could not avoid hitting them. Authorities say evidence at the scene proved otherwise. Howard voluntarily submitted to field sobriety testing, which showed significant impairment. According to the report, toxicology also showed she was heavily abusing and was under the influence of prescription drugs while driving.  She was sentenced to 31 years in prison, with 25 to serve.

Ashley Block was 25-year old and had recently started her Ph.D. program at UGA when she was killed.

 

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!