Posted on 07/21/2011 11:21:12 AM PDT by Smogger
RIVERSIDE - A fourth highway worker since early May has been struck in a freeway accident and is now in critical condition, Caltrans officials said.
The worker, who has not yet been identified, is an employee of Skanska, a Caltrans subcontractor, said Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga. He was struck today on the westbound 91 freeway at Van Buren Boulevard.
Three other Caltrans workers have been struck in freeway accidents in the last two months.
Richard Gonzalez, 52, was picking up trash June 20 on the 15 Freeway connector to Highway 94 in San Diego when he was struck by a car and killed.
Maintenance worker Jaime Obeso was killed June 7 when a vehicle struck him while he worked on the 8 Freeway in Imperial County.
Landscape worker Stephen Palmer Sr. was struck by a trolley and killed May 4 in National City.
Caltrans pulled all of its workers off roadways across the state following Gonzalez's death as a safety precaution.
When Caltrans launched a "Move Over" safety campaign July 13, 700 electronic freeway signs across the state bore the message "Slow Down or Move Over For Workers, It's the Law."
Situations transpire.
In Illinois if you hit a worker with your car it’s automatic 14 years in jail plus a $10,000 fine. There are signs posted like that in work areas esp. on the fwy’s.
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