UGA Athletic Association employee killed in I-20 wreck near Thomson

A University of Georgia Athletic Association employee was killed Thursday in a wreck along I-20 near Thomson.

McDuffie County Coroner Paul Johnson said Friday that the crash claimed the life of 53-year-old Mark Delafchell, who was traveling west when he crashed into the rear of an 18-wheeler truck. Delafchell was pulling a trailer loaded with a car, he said. The crash was reported at 12:19 p.m.

Delafchell was extricated from the vehicle and taken to Doctors Hospital in Augusta, where he was pronounced dead at 1:39 p.m., according to the coroner.

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the wreck, Johnson said.

Delafchell, who was director of Building Servicies, was named the Athletic Association’s Employee of the Year in 2015. According to the association, he supervised custodial and maintenance for all buildings used in athletics.

A native of Hinesville, Delafchell began his career for the athletic association several years ago in a job at Sanford Stadium.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: UGA Athletic Association employee killed in McDuffie County wreck