James Waller was riding his Harley-Davidson down Highway 96 Friday afternoon when everything changed in a second. The 73-year-old from Perry hit a Kia Soul near Butten Drive in Warner Robins. It was just after 3 p.m. on October 23.
Deputies found him unresponsive at the scene. They called an ambulance right away. Crews took him to a local hospital. Doctors there pronounced him dead a short time later.
Trevor Carlson, 31, from Fort Valley was driving the 2016 Kia Soul. He told deputies he was heading west on Highway 96. Then he entered Waller’s lane. That was the start of the crash.
Waller lived in Perry most of his life. Friends and family knew him as a steady guy who liked the open road on his bike. At 73 he still got out and rode when the weather was good. That Friday he was doing just that.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division is looking into what happened. No charges have been announced yet. Investigators are still sorting through the details.
People who knew James say the sudden loss hits hard. One day he was out on his motorcycle. The next day folks are left with memories and questions. The road near Butten Drive stayed blocked for a while as crews worked the scene.
Waller’s name is now tied to that stretch of Highway 96. His family and friends will carry the weight of that day. The investigation continues as they try to piece together how a simple ride turned fatal.
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