Ohio Department of Transporation (ODOT) released a press release on Monday, May 21, acknowledging that one of its road construction workers was struck while working on a portion of State Route 176 in Cleveland that morning.
Police investigators are still trying to piece together what occurred in the moments before the worker was struck. They note that they’re still not completely sure what caused the motorist who ran into him to breach the work zone’s cone barrier that they had set up to keep workers safe.
The foreman for the construction company hired to complete the work notes that he and his workers have their lives threatened every day. He notes that motorists quickly become frustrated sitting in slow traffic and that they pull out all types of evasive moves on the highways as a result.
In this case, the foreman says that he witnessed this particular crash occur. He said that he saw the truck’s driver speed up to the work zone, then quickly dart behind the guardrail, less than 2,000 feet from where his construction workers were positioned. It’s then that the truck driver slammed into two barrier walls that hadn’t yet been set in place.
He notes that one of his workers was left pinned between the two concrete panels. He says that his legs were smashed because of it. The man then apparently blacked out. It’s unclear what his prognosis is.
Although laws such as Ohio’s Move Over Law exist requiring motorists to change lanes to give first responders, construction and ODOT workers and police space as they work, few honor them. Even fewer drivers reduce their speed to posted limits when they come into construction zones.
Workers employed in the construction sector face significant injury risks whether from heavy machinery, automobiles, tools, falls from ladders or scaffolding or something else. If you’ve suffered debilitating injuries on the job, then a Cleveland construction accidents attorney can advise you of your right to sue either your employer or the negligent party in your case.
Source: News 5 Cleveland, “Man hit while working in construction zone on State Route 176,” Kaylyn Hlavaty, May 21, 2018