James Ray Norris and Johnny Lee Ingram were picking up equipment on the shoulder when an Amazon box truck struck their work vehicle, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Two road workers killed Monday morning, Sept. 14, while collecting traffic control equipment along Interstate 95 have been identified as James Ray Norris, 34, of Cedartown, and Johnny Lee Ingram, 35, of Rome.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the men were working on the northbound side of I-95 around 6:15 a.m. when an Amazon Freightliner box truck crossed onto the right shoulder and hit the Ford F600 traffic control truck they were working around.
The force of the crash pushed the Ford across three lanes of traffic and into the median, where it went over a guardrail and stopped near the southbound lanes. The box truck also came to rest against the guardrail and the Ford. Norris and Ingram, who were outside the truck at the time, died at the scene.
Both men worked in the Traffic Control group at CW Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. The company said each had spent many years with CWM and described them as valued members of its team. In a statement, the company said it was grieving the tragic loss of the two men and that their deaths are being felt across the organization. “Their presence will be deeply missed, more than words can express,” the company said.
CW Matthews also thanked those who have offered support and asked the public to keep the workers’ families, friends and coworkers in their thoughts and prayers.
Amazon spokesperson Lex Evans said the company is aware of the incident, which involved one of its Delivery Service Partners, and that its thoughts are with the families and everyone affected. Evans added that Amazon is ready to assist law enforcement as needed.
The interstate was closed for several hours after the crash. The box truck driver was released, and the Georgia State Patrol says the investigation is ongoing. No charges have been announced.
