Worker hit, killed on side of I-85 in Banks County

A man was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide after two people were hit, one of them fatally, as they picked up trash early Wednesday along I-85 in Banks County.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Jerry Thomas was driving his 2007 Dodge Ram on I-85 South near Banks Crossing just before 7:30 a.m. when he failed to maintain his lane and drove onto the east shoulder of the roadway.

Gregorio Alfonso and Fransico Cucul, unauthorized immigrants who were picking up debris on the road for North Carolina-based Lovin Contracting Company, were hit, the GSP said.

Alfonso, 48, died from his injuries. Cucul, 23, sustained minor injuries.

Thomas, 45, of Vale, N.C., was not injured in the wreck.

In addition to the misdemeanor charge of vehicular homicide, he faces charges of failure to maintain lane and driving on a suspended license.

The GSP said alcohol and drugs were not suspected in the crash.

In other news:

Authorities say witnesses helped them catch the driver and arrest him.

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