Early Friday morning, a construction worker was struck and killed by a motorist on I-40. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened sometime around 2:00 a.m., near Morganton. For currently unknown reasons, the driver of a pickup truck drover through construction cones in the work zone and struck three workers. First responders were swiftly on the scene, but one of the victims died on the way to the hospital. Reportedly, one of the victims was seriously injured, and another was treated for injuries and released. Very little information has been released on the extent of those injuries.
The incident happened in a construction zone near exit 105, where construction workers were working on a paving project on the bridge over highway 18. Crews and investigators were on the scene for hours. The westbound lane wasn’t reopened for drivers until sometime after 8:15 a.m. WLOS ABC News Channel 13 reports that the workers were wearing reflective vests, inside of the work zone, and that they were surrounded by construction barrels and the construction site was illuminated at the time of the crash.
Work Zone Safety in North Carolina
Last year, over 1,700 people were injured and 13 people were killed in work-zone crashes across the state. Motorists need to understand that these injuries and deaths are totally preventable. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) estimates that about 150 major work zones are operating at any given time in North Carolina. The National Highway Work Zone Safety Program also offers motorists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists plenty of resources for safely sharing the roadway in a work zone.
NCDOT’s Work Zone Safety Tips
• Stay alert • Obey posted speed limits • Do not speed • Keep a safe following distance • Minimize distractions like cell phones • Expect the unexpected
The cause of this crash is still under investigation with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and officials with the NCDOT are urging drivers to stay alert and use caution when driving through work zones. The team at Davis Law Group, P.A. sends their deepest condolences to the family members and friends of the worker who was killed and wishes speedy and full recoveries to the surviving victims.