COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -
Family members are speaking after a Muscogee County School District security officer was charged last week for the death of a Columbus woman.
Flowers now sit just off Steam Mill Road in Columbus where 50-year-old Loretta Williams lost her life earlier this month. Her stepmother, Minister Angela Miller Shelton, says the family misses so much about Williams.
"She always had a smile on her face. [We will miss] Her love for her family, her love for people, her love for her job, and most of all her love for her church," said the minister.
Officials say Alfie Johnson, a part-time employee for the Muscogee County School District, was the driver of the district truck that somehow left the roadway and struck Williams on December 15th.
Police say Johnson is facing misdemeanor charges of homicide by vehicle in the second-degree and failure to maintain lane, but William's stepmother says the family still has questions.
"Was he over-worked? Did he fall asleep? Was he texting? You know those are questions that we need answered. It would make the family feel a lot better just knowing what he was doing," said Williams' stepmother.
We are told two other people walking with Williams were also struck. One had minor injuries, but Karen Pridgen's aunt 63-year-old Linda Estell is still in a rehabilitation center in Atlanta.
"She can move her right arm pretty well and rotate her wrist. Not so much on the left. She can't use her hands. She has sensation, but no movement from the waist down," said Pridgen.
Pridgen says she wants to see more charges in the case if possible.
"Nobody wanted this to happen, including the driver. I just don't think my aunt and the other person that was involved in the accident were even a thought in the charges," said Pridgen.
We called Johnson at the school district security office where officials say he is still employeed. He said he could not speak with us.
Williams' family also questioned if a breathalyzer was administered at the scene. Columbus police told us there was no indication of drugs or alcohol in the case, and there are no other charges pending against Johnson.
If convicted, officials say Johnson could face a maximum of 12 months in prison for the homicide by vehicle charge.
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