In separate incidents in the same area, two people were struck by vehicles on U.S. Highway 43 South about a mile south of the highway’s intersection with U.S. Highway 80 in Demopolis, with one man dying as the result of his injuries.

Early Saturday morning, at 3:47 a.m., Eddie Williams of Linden was killed when a truck driven by Willie James Lewis of Forest Park, Ga., ran over Williams as he lay on the highway. Lewis was making a delivery to the Demopolis Wal-Mart.

“Forensic science officers told us that it did not appear that he was struck by another vehicle at all,” said Demopolis police Chief Tommie Reese, referring to rumors that the victim had been struck by another vehicle before being run over.

“I got on the scene within 10 minutes after receiving the call, and at that point, we shut the road down from Eden Drive all the way up to U.S. 80.

“We allowed traffic to flow through the Gateway Plaza parking lot and to go down Bell Grayson Road.,” he said. “That part of the highway stayed closed until about noon that day.”

The Demopolis Police Department’s investigation is ongoing with assistance from the Alabama State Troopers. Reese added that the body was sent to Montgomery for an autopsy.

Just 19 hours later, at about 10:42 p.m., a report came in that a man had been struck by a vehicle just a quarter-mile from where the first incident occurred. He refused medical treatment at the scene. Reese said the man was “very well inebriated.”