Trial Moved for Driver Accused of Two Upshur County Deaths

UPSHUR COUNTY — The trial of a man accused of killing two young Harmony women in a head-on crash on graduation night this year has been moved to Longview. Robert William Frazier was indicted in September on two counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. His trial in Longview will be scheduled next year. Frazier remained Tuesday in the Upshur County Jail on a $500,000 bond set by 115th District Judge Lauren Parish. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, both sides agreed in an order signed Tuesday by Parish that “great prejudice” in the community against defendant Frazier prevents a fair trial in Gilmer.

Frazier, 23, was driving east in the westbound lane of Texas 154 about 11 p.m. about 6 miles west of Gilmer when a westbound vehicle carrying four Harmony teens veered to avoid hitting Frazier. A Texas Department of Public Safety report on the June 3 wreck said Frazier veered toward them at the same time, and the resulting impact caused the westbound car to go airborne. The vehicle came to rest on its top, killing Haley Johnson, 19. Driver Bailee Jordan Russell, who had graduated from Harmony High School that night, died four days later. Haley Johnson’s sister, Cameron Johnson, and Alisha Allen, both 17, were treated for injuries.