UGA student killed by hit-and-run driver

Drury Anderson Shierling

By Joe Johnson

A University of Georgia student was killed early Wednesday when his car was struck by another car that was driven by a man who then left the scene.

According to an Athens-Clarke County police accident report, the crash happened shortly after 6 a.m. when a car driven by 51-year-old Edward Lee Stowers of Hartwell, exited the Athens Perimeter on a rain-slickened off ramp to Timothy Road.

Unable to negotiate the turn from the highway, police said that Stowers’ car crashed into a raised center median and then struck a car operated by 20-year-old Drury Anderson Shierling.

Police said that after the crash, Stowers asked for a ride to a RaceTrac from someone who stopped at the scene.

The engine block from one of the csars involved in the wreck lays on the shoulder of Timothy Road

That witness then called police to let them know of Stowers’ whereabouts

Meanwhile, Shierling and a 21-year-old male passenger were taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital, where Shierling was pronounced dead.

Radio station WGAU identified Shierling as a UGA student from Lumpkin in Stewart County, which ACCPD later confirmed..

The condition of his passenger was not noted in the accident report.

Stowers was charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury, travelling too fast for conditions, failure to maintain lane and driving while license suspended, police said.