Arkansas Man Arrested For Homicide by Vehicle In Memorial Day Accident

Adam Richard Stikeleather, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was arrested on May 31, following the death of Stacey Fowler, age 55 of Toombs County, in a head-on collision on Memorial Day.

Stikeleather is facing charges of First Degree Homicide by Vehicle, Failure to Maintain Lane, and DUI/Drugs. Stikeleather struck Fowler when his vehicle crossed the centerline of Georgia State Route 135 near Buzzy’s Convenience Store in Uvalda around 11:30 a.m. This deviation from his lane caused Stikeleather to hit Fowler head-on, resulting in her death.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the accident occurred precisely 0.2 miles north of the intersection of State Route 135 and South Old River Road in Montgomery County. The investigation report says that Stikeleather’s 2018 Toyota RAV4 crossed the median and struck Fowler’s 2020 Honda Civic, which spiraled the pair into an uncontrolled final resting point and trapped Fowler in her vehicle. Witness James White turned left out of Buzzy’s and began to travel the opposite direction of Stikeleather prior to the wreck. While continuing on the roadway, White noticed that Sikeleather was failing to maintain his lane when travelling toward him, which caused him to slow down and move to avoid the crash. When White continued from page

looked in the rearview mirror he saw Stikeleather’s vehicle gradually cross the median and strike Fowler. White then turned around in a safe location and returned to the crash scene.

The GSP have determined that Stikeleather was under the influence of drugs when the accident happened, which is what led him to deviate from his path of travel.

Stikeleather had his first appearance and bond was set at $25,000 by Montgomery County Magistrate Judge Ashley Thornton.

Fowler was pronounced dead at the scene. A native of Higgston, she was a licensed cosmetologist who owned and operated A New Look Beauty Salon. She also worked at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville for 10 years, and spent the last five years working at Montgomery State Prison in Mt. Vernon. She attended Cedar Crossing Baptist Church, and enjoyed spending time with her family, the beach, the river, shopping, arts and crafts and home projects.

She leaves behind two sons, Brandon Vinson and wife Brittany of Vidalia, and Avery Vinson and wife Leah of Lyons; her parents, Durward Fowler and Opal Dean Fowler of New Branch; three siblings, Talmadge Fowler and Todd Hall of Vidalia, Darrell Fowler and wife Vicky of Nunez, and Avie Dean Fowler McCumber of New Branch; four grandchildren, Gabi Vinson, Kayden Vinson, Anslee Vinson and Ayden Vinson; two nieces, Megan Fowler and Karlye Claxton; one nephew, Dawson Claxton; one great-nephew, Lane Dismuke; and one great-niece, Kendhall Fowler.