When there are construction teams on or near the roads, it’s important for drivers to be aware, to slow down and to follow directions. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.
When drivers don’t pay attention, speed through a work zone or ignore traffic controllers, they could cause collisions. Those crashes could be fatal, like in this case.
According to news out of Osceola County, a construction worker was killed when he was attempting to stop traffic. The Florida Highway Patrol said that the worker, 43, was trying to control traffic on South Poinciana Boulevard when a 71-year-old driver collided with him at around 7:00 a.m.
The worker was rushed to Osceola Regional Medical Center, but he did not survive his injuries. So far, there are no charges being pressed, and the authorities said it was dark at the time of the collision. The worker, troopers said, was not wearing a reflective safety vest but did have a flashlight in hand when he was struck.
This kind of incident is completely avoidable. Workers need to wear the right personal protective equipment at all times, and drivers need to be attentive to the roadways. Construction workers are at a higher risk of being hit by vehicles when they’re around the roads, especially when those roadways are busy and they’re working at night.
If you are hurt while working as part of a road crew or lose a loved one in a crash like this one, remember that workers’ compensation may provide you with the benefits you need to recover your financial losses as you start to move forward.
