Police arrest driver who hit two construction workers in Marietta

MARIETTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Marietta Police Department has arrested the man accused of hitting two construction workers and leaving the scene on I-75 early Sunday morning.

Emergency crews responded to the area of Roswell Road under the I-75 overpass around 1:40 a.m. after reports of a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle.

Malik Branch, 23, of Dallas was arrested Tuesday night and booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and facing the following charges:

2 counts of Felony Serious Injury by Vehicle, 2 counts of Felony Hit & Run, misdemeanor DUI Less Safe, misdemeanor Failure to Maintain Lane, misdemeanor Suspended License, misdemeanor suspended Registration, misdemeanor No Insurance, misdemeanor No Seatbelt and misdemeanor Improper Equipment.

According to Marietta police officials, Malik was driving a gray 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, when he failed to yield on Roswell Road, struck a message board, and the two workers, 38-year-old Jimmy Varraza and 28-year-old Oscar Aguilar who were out of their vehicle setting up a traffic directional board for a lane closure. Investigators say, Malik, stopped at the scene and then fled on foot before first responders arrived.

“This has some twists to it. In this particular case, this isn’t the normal situation. The driver of that vehicle isn’t the registered owner of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, after hitting both of them, stopped, got out of the vehicle, and then before emergency services could arrive, fled on foot leaving the vehicle behind,” Chuck McPhilamy from the Marietta Police Department.

Officials say Varraza and Aguilar were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

“They are still with us, they are somewhat at least communicative, which is a good sign. They are not out of the woods. We really need to keep these individuals in our prayers,” McPhilamy said.

Oscar Aguilar is recovering and has been released from the hospital, Jimmy Varraza remains in critical condition.

Additional charges may be added later pending Varraza’s recovery.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Officer K. Bedford at (770) 794-5364.

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