Engineer Struck While Marking Highway

A field engineer was killed when struck by a truck while he painted markings on the shoulder of a highway.

Working for an engineering firm that oversaw highway reconstruction, he was examining part of a 12-lane toll road. He drove to the site alone, pulled onto the 14-foot (four-meter) wide shoulder and walked ahead on the shoulder, wearing a safety vest. His car had an amber light flashing in its rear window, but no other traffic-warning devices. Meanwhile, the driver of a box truck heading toward him from behind saw the victim’s car but was distracted by a second truck moving into his lane. The driver moved onto the shoulder to avoid the second truck.

As the victim used spray paint to mark pavement near a storm drain, he was hit in the head and upper torso by the box truck’s passenger-side extended mirror.

Be aware of the extreme danger of working on or near a highway, even for a short time. Wear high-visibility clothing and have a second person for spotting traffic problems. One good type of protection is to work ahead of a vehicle equipped with an impact attenuator, flashing arrow or signboard and visible flashing lights.