Interstate 85 Wreck Victim Identified

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Authorities have released the name of a man who died last week in an accident on Interstate 85 in Franklin County.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, the man is identified as 55-year-old Roger Wayne Hughes of Fayetteville, Georgia.

Hughes died last Wednesday, October 29 on I-85, near mile marker 172, in Franklin County.

At about 6 a.m. on October 29, Hughes was pulling a double tractor-trailer southbound on the interstate when it suddenly left the road, went up an embankment into some trees, flipped, and burst into flames.

Results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death have not been released and the GSP said it is still not known if Hughes died as the result of the accident itself.

The October 29 wreck backed up traffic on I-85 for most of the day that day until firefighters from three fire stations were able to put the fire out and crews could remove the wreckage.

Funeral services for Hughes were held last Sunday in Fayetteville.