Gerald Wayne McRee

Gerald Wayne McRee, a 60-year-old White male from the River Bend community in West Blocton, Alabama, was a grandfather who was born and raised in nearby Bessemer.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 27, 2023, McRee was driving his 2006 Chevrolet Colorado on Alabama State Route 5 in Bibb County. At approximately 5:40 a.m., about five miles south of Woodstock, his truck was struck by a 2013 Toyota Tacoma. McRee was fatally injured in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Tacoma was identified as William Brooks Foster, a 24-year-old from McCalla. He sustained injuries in the wreck and was transported to Bibb Medical Center for treatment. An investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency followed. According to police reports and court documents, investigators alleged that Foster was driving on the wrong side of the highway and had forced another car off the road immediately before the fatal crash.

The investigation also found that Foster’s blood alcohol content was reportedly 0.157, nearly twice the legal limit in Alabama. Records also indicated that he had a prior charge for driving under the influence from April 2020. Following the investigation, a Bibb County grand jury reviewed the evidence and indicted William Brooks Foster on charges of murder and driving under the influence. As of the indictment in December 2023, the case was proceeding through the legal system.