Identify of man killed near Love’s released

Published 4:46 pm Thursday, January 9, 2020

Panola County Coroner Gracie Grant-Gulledge has released the name of the man struck and killed by a vehicle in front of the Love’s Travel Stop last Friday.

Eric Neil Ziler, 61, died from blunt force trauma when he was hit while walking too close to traffic.

Batesville Police Department worked the accident. No charges are expected to be filed.

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The coroner confirmed the man had a wallet with identification when he was struck, and later pronounced dead at Panola Medical Center. She did not release his name until relatives could be notified.

That process took two days because his nearest relatives live in another state, and have reportedly not seen him in several years. It is believed the transient had no Batesville connections.