Driver accused of leaving scene after striking 2 Marietta construction workers now facing charges

Police arrested a Dallas, Georgia man, Malik Branch and charged him with plowing down two construction workers and leaving them in critical condition on a Marietta road over the weekend.

Police say that early Sunday morning, while 38-year-old Jimmy Varraza and 28-year-old Oscar Aguilar were working setting up a traffic board on Roswell Road under the Interstate 75 overpass, a gray 2019 Volkswagen Jetta traveling eastbound failed to yield to the lane closure, plowed right through the board, and hit both of the construction workers.

After hitting the workers, Branch, 23, left his vehicle and fled on foot before first responders could arrive. Days after investigating the case, police determined Branch to be the driver in the crash who fled and took him into custody Tuesday night.

Following his arrest, Branch was charged with two counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, two counts of felony hit-and-run, DUI, failure to maintain lane, driving with a suspended license and registration, driving with no insurance, driving without wearing a seatbelt, and improper equipment.

He was taken to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

The Marietta Police Department asks that anyone with any information on this incident contact them at 770-794-5364.