Worker Killed In Hit And Run On I-59/20; Bessemer Man Charged

BESSEMER, AL — A man working on I-59/20 in Bessemer Sunday night was killed when he was struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 57-year-old Sammy Stuart Blankenship of Clanton.

The motorist, identified as 47-year-old Daniel J. Hyde of Bessemer, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death, which is a Class C felony.

The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. Sunday in the southbound lanes near the Alabama Adventure amusement park exit. Blankenship was walking behind a construction vehicle when the suspect’s vehicle drove through the orange construction barrels and struck Blankenship, according to an Alabama Media Group report..

Blankenship was taken to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:03 a.m.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly got out of his car and inspected the damage to his vehicle and then left the scene.

A Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy at the construction site was able to follow Hyde, who got off the interstate at Academy Drive and was then taken into custody. He was released Tuesday from Jefferson County Jail after posting $10,000 bond. A court date has not been announced.