A 19-year-old resident of Muscle Shoals is facing manslaughter charges following a tragic accident that occurred in January. On June 17th, law enforcement officials successfully obtained an arrest warrant for Frederic Jason Rider, as confirmed by the Muscle Shoals Police Department. This development comes in connection with a traffic homicide investigation centered around the fatal incident that claimed the life of 58-year-old Trennon Wade Putnam, a resident of Florence.
The collision took place on January 21st at approximately 6:25 AM, prompting a response from the Muscle Shoals Police to a crash site located on Wilson Dam Road, just south of the railroad overpass. Upon arrival, officers assessed the severity of the situation and subsequently notified the department’s Traffic Homicide Investigators to take over the case.
Investigators determined that Rider was driving a 2017 Dodge Journey SXT northbound on Wilson Dam Road when he collided with Putnam’s 2018 Ford Mustang GT. Following this initial impact, a 2019 Freightliner truck subsequently struck both vehicles. As a result of the collision, Rider sustained critical injuries and was transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Tragically, the Colbert County Coroner, Justin Gasque, pronounced Putnam dead at the scene. Emergency personnel, including fire and medical responders, provided assistance to the other individuals involved in the crash.
Following a thorough investigation, detectives concluded that Rider’s excessive speed and the results of a blood test indicating the presence of multiple controlled substances contributed to the accident. Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued for Rider, who was later taken to Colbert County Jail. He was booked and subsequently released after posting a $50,000 bond.