NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Loganville, GA, June 22, 2026 — A 46-year-old roadside worker was struck and killed while performing his duties on a roadway in Walton County, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
Authorities said Vipulkumar Patel was taking measurements on State Route 81 near Ozora Church Road on June 4 when he was struck by an Acura MDX traveling northbound through a work zone. Patel was working in the roadway at the time of the incident.
Troopers said Patel died at the scene. The driver of the Acura, a 16-year-old, was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation by Georgia State Patrol Post 4.
The fatal incident has drawn attention to the dangers faced by roadside workers, including construction crews, emergency responders, tow truck operators, utility workers, and law enforcement personnel, who often work just feet away from moving traffic.
In a statement following the crash, the road safety advocacy group Slow Down Move Over Inc. urged motorists to remain alert, avoid distractions, obey work-zone speed limits, and move over whenever possible for roadside personnel.
“Every cone, warning sign, flashing light, and work zone exists for a reason,” the organization said. “A moment of distraction behind the wheel can forever change the lives of workers, their families, coworkers, and entire communities.”
According to his obituary, Patel was born on July 6, 1979. Funeral services were held on June 10 at Wages & Sons Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, where family and friends gathered to remember him.
The advocacy group extended its condolences to Patel’s family, friends, and coworkers and renewed its call for drivers to exercise caution when approaching roadside work zones.
Patel’s death serves as a reminder of the risks faced daily by those who maintain and protect Georgia’s roads and highways.
Anyone with information about the crash is encouraged to contact the Georgia State Patrol as the investigation continues.
