A worker with AAA helping a driver on a road in Bowie, Maryland, was hit and killed Tuesday night, the Maryland State Police said.
In a statement, police said Anthony Okozi, 69, of Upper Marlboro, was providing fuel to the driver of a van on westbound Route 50 near Collington Road at around 11:15 p.m.
The van was partially on the left shoulder, according to a preliminary investigation; Okozi parked behind the vehicle. When Okozi began fueling, police said, Joseph Anderson 21, of Rockville, swerved to avoid the AAA vehicle and hit Okozi.
Officers said Okozi’s hazard lights were on and he was wearing a reflective vest while he was fueling the van.
AAA spokeswoman Ragina Ali told WTOP that Okozi had started working for AAA in June of last year, and that he planned to retire next year.
She said the incident showed the importance of laws that require drivers to slow down, and move a lane over if they can, when they come across vehicles and people by the side of the road.
AAA spokeswoman Ragina Ali said Maryland’s law, which was passed in 2010 and expanded in 2014 for tow truck drivers and in 2018 for AAA battery trucks, was “a huge legislative push for AAA.” That said, “We’re continuing to see these tragedies on our roadways.”
The law will once again expand Oct. 1 to include all drivers on the side of the road, but it’s still up to drivers to actually follow it. “It’s incumbent on drives to slow down and move over,” Ali said.
“We are deeply saddened by this incident,” Ali said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to our AAA family, and of course Mr. Okozi’s family.”
WTOP’s Rick Massimo contributed to this report.
