Two highway workers were killed Thursday afternoon after a driver of a car fell asleep, causing the car to go onto a median and hit them in Accokeek, Md., according to police.
The workers were cutting grass along Berry Road at Bensville Road at about 1:15 p.m., a Maryland highway spokesman said.
Authorities said the 24-year-old driver, Yuri M. F. Vielot Jr., had fallen asleep at the wheel and didn't turn at a curve in the highway, instead driving on to the median, News4's Derrick Ward reported. Vielot struck a large highway sign, then struck the two victims who were part of a three-person team working in the median. Both victims were wearing fluorescent green highway safety vests when they were struck.
The third man was not struck by the vehicle and was not injured.
The victims were preliminarily identified as Marlon E. C. Lorenzo, 28, of Silver Spring, Md., and Erick T. M. Alvarado, 24, also of Silver Spring. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Vielot Jr., of Hyattsville, was taken to an area hospital for evaluation. No charges have been filed as of yet.
