ATHENS, Ga. — A University of Georgia graduate student was killed, and two of her friends were hurt, when they were run over by a car while taking a bicycle ride.
It happened Monday around 6 p.m. along Athena Drive in east Athens.
Police say the driver of the car, Whitney Baker Howard, 31, was under the influence of prescription medications when she hit the three riders head on. Police say she was also on her cellphone. %
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Ashley Block, 25, was killed. A second rider, Mitchell Enfinger, was seriously injured and a third friend, Brian Malloy, was slightly hurt.
Malloy is a co-owner of The Hub Bicycles, a bicycle store where the three friends met Monday night before beginning their ride.
Malloy told Channel 2's Berndt Petersen he remembers a black vehicle, first in the middle of the road, then heading right toward his group. He says it seemed like it happened in slow motion as his friends were run over.
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The Hub was closed on Tuesday, and there was a paper sign on the door describing the tragedy.
Bicyclist Madeline Pearce left flowers outside the store.
“It's just hard to think that one day you go out on a ride, and the next second you're just gone,” she said.
Pearce says she often rides with people who meet at The Hub.
“All I know is that it could have been me. If I wasn't tired, I could have gone on the Monday ride. That could have been me,” she 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.
Tragedy struck the Monday night group road ride yesterday. We pray for the loss of our friend and for the other injured...
Posted by The Hub Bicycles on Tuesday, September 13, 2016
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