Work release inmate killed 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 Department. He was emptying containers along Need 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 charges are expected to be filed in the case.
Arias was part of a Morgan County Sheriff’s Office program that provides free labor to city municipalities, county department and volunteer organizations.