Somerville man killed while working along highway

An inmate working for the Morgan County Sanitation Department was killed after he was struck by a vehicle Dec. 9.
Joseph Antonio Arias, 44, of Somerville was assigned to work release with the Morgan County Sanitation Depar-ment.
He was emptying containers along Neel Road when he was struck by a passing vehicle. EMTs from Neel and Punkin Center responded to the scene and Arias was transported via Medflight to Huntsville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver of the vehicle, Melanie Liles, 35, of Decatur, was not injured. No details have been released if the driver faces any charges.
Arias was part of a Morgan County Sheriff’s Office program that provides free labor to city municipalities, county departments and volunteer organizations.
He was in the Morgan County Jail on drunk driving charges.