Centre Man Charged in January Crash That Claimed the Life of a Rome Woman

Taniesa L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News (WRGA)

ROME, Ga. - A Rome woman, 59-year-old Denise Howell, was critically injured in a two-vehicle crash occurring back on January 27, 2024, where she later succumbed to her injuries. Howell was one of three passengers in a GMC Yukon driven by 37-year-old George W. Fowler of Rome. Fowler and the other two passengers, 59-year-old Joe Howell and 61-year-old Jim Howell were also injured in the crash back in January.

The preliminary investigation of the crash indicated that the GMC Yukon was northbound and turning left onto Walker Mountain Road when it was struck by a southbound Dodge Ram driven by 21-year-old William D. Frier Jr. of Centre, Alabama.

The arrest warrant for Frier states that he ran a red light at Cedartown Highway and Walker Mountain Road, striking the GMC Yukon.

Frier stands charged with misdemeanor counts of 2nd-degree Homicide by Vehicle and Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.  He turned himself in at the Floyd County Jail on Monday, June 3, and has been released on bond.