Give Them a Brake. And Some Barriers
As usual, the newspapers don't give any details on what might have prevented these deaths. And as they're all public employees in states without OSHA coverage, we may never know.
Second road worker killed
The death of a second Chicago-area highway worker this week has state officials urging caution in construction zones, while a judge is keeping the driver in the first accident behind bars because of his criminal record.
A semi truck entered a closed lane on Interstate 294 early Thursday morning and killed a 26-year-old tollway worker, State Police Sgt. Steve Clemente said. Police identified the man as Paul Liotine of West Chicago. He and several other tollway workers were replacing reflectors in the pavement.
Authorities said charges had not yet been filed and it did not appear drugs or alcohol were a factor. But the Chicago man arrested after an accident that killed a 36-year-old mother of seven in an I-57 construction zone on Monday had four previous DUI convictions and police said his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
And this
MODOT Accident
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Local highway department crews are mourning the loss of a fellow worker. 35-year old Karla Baublitz of Sarcoxie was killed yesterday morning near 7th and Schifferdecker in Joplin. Baublitz was one of two MODOT workers who were repairing a tractor when they were struck by a small pickup. State troopers say the driver of the truck fell asleep at the wheel. Baublitz was pronounced dead at the scene. Her fellow worker, 31-year old Trevor Keller is being treated for serious injuries.
And this
Runaway truck kills driver
A city garbage truck driver was run over and killed Thursday morning after he tried to chase down his runaway truck on a South Hills street.
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Leonard's death marked the second time in five years that a city garbage worker was killed by a runaway truck. On May 15, 1998, Kenneth S. Tester, 35, was crushed in the cab of his truck after it rolled down Saline Street in Greenfield and struck a house porch.
