Suspect Surrenders in Hit-and-Run Case

The man accused in last month's hit-and-run that's left a former Kennesaw State University student in critical condition has surrendered to law enforcement.

William Wilson Heaton, Jr., 22, of Rydal surrendered himself to the Clarke County Sheriff's Office and was booked into the Clarke County Jail on Wednesday evening.

He has been charged with hit-and-run, driving under the influence, serious injury by vehicle, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, and open container, according to Athens Clarke County Police.

A bond hearing has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today in Clarke County Superior Court.

Police claim that Heaton's Mazda pickup hit Emily Bowman, 19, around 3 a.m. Feb. 16, as she and a friend walked home from another friend's birthday party.

They were walking on the grassy shoulder, investigators believe, when Heaton's Mazda pickup left the road and then hit Bowman from behind as he returned the vehicle to the road. He left the area and abandoned the truck, police believe.

Bowman has remained hospitalized at Athens Regional Medical Center since the incident. 

Though he now lives in Rydal, Heaton is no stranger to the Athens area. Records show he played football as a junior at Oconee High School.

Heaton has extended family members in Bartow County.

Police have spent countless hours after the accident studying video footage from downtown Athens and from various establishments in downtown, trying to establish Heaton's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Bowman has made slow, but steady progress in her recovery and her friends and her family have documented her tenure at the hospital on the Bows For Bowman Facebook page.

They've also arranged fundraisers to bring in money for the family to pay for Bowman's medical bills and other essential expenses related to her recovery.