Politics & Government

Loganville Man Remains In Jail on $7,000 Bond In Connection with HERO Worker Death

Law named for the HERO worker makes his children eligible to receive compensation from the State Indemnification Fund.

Two days after his arrest, Loganville resident Kirk Sherwood, 47, remains in the Fulton County Detention Center, now on a total of $7,000 bond. Sherwood was arrested May 23 in connection with an accident Jan. 31 on Interstate 85 that resulted in the death of Georgia Department of Transportation HERO worker Spencer Pass, 45.

Sherwood is facing misdemeanor charges of second-degree vehicular homicide, violation of the Move Over law, a lane violation and two equipment violations (lights and brakes) on the trailer Sherwood was pulling at the time.

Pass was the first GDOT HERO worker killed in the line of duty. According to a press release from the Georgia State Patrol, the crash occurred at about 10:30 a.m. on I-85 southbound at Metropolitan Parkway as DOT HERO Pass was assisting a motorist on the shoulder of the Interstate. A 2004 F-350 truck, pulling a trailer, allegedly being driver by Sherwood struck the two vehicles, killing the victim. Pass left behind three teenage children.

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May 13, Gov. Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 58, named the Spencer Pass Hero Memorial Act, making the family members of transportation workers killed in the line of duty also eligible for $100,000 from the State Indemnification Fund. Prior to SB 58, the Indemnification Fund applied to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, emergency management specialist or prison guards who were killed in the line of duty. The law was made retroactive to Jan. 1 to include Pass.

Prior to 2009 when the law was amended to become The Jarrett Little Act, the money was only payable to the spouse of the victim. It now covers immediate family members such as children, parents or siblings. 

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