Safety
Illinois Tollway Worker Dies, Two Others Injured in May 30 Vehicle Crash
Maintenance employees were doing pothole repairs on I-294 near suburban Des Plaines, Ill., when they were hit by Audi SUV
Three tollway aintenance employees were doing pothole repairs on I-294 near suburban Des Plaines, Ill. when they were hit by Audi SUV
One Illinois Tollway maintenance worker was killed and two others were injured while doing pothole repairs on Interstate-294 near suburban Des Plaines, Ill., in the early morning of May 30.
The man who died was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner as Calvin L. Holley, 52, of Chicago. The two other workers, who were not identified, were injured and hospitalized. The vehicle speed also was not disclosed.
Holley was identified as an equipment operator-laborer who worked for the Tollway for the past two years, "and was a respected and valued member," said Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse in a statement.
"Our equipment operator-laborers work on the front line of our 294-mile roadway system, performing duties that include maintaining safe roadway conditions and assisting drivers who were stranded or needed help. He was carrying out these duties when he tragically lost his life," she added.
Trooper Jayme Bufford, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Police, said in an email that police responded to the crash involving a passenger vehicle that struck the three workers in the southbound lanes at approximately 4:26 a.m.
The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed against the SUV driver who allegedly struck the three and remained on the scene, Bufford said.
Associated General Contractors of America’s annual survey recently found 60% of highway contractors reported at least one crash involving a moving vehicle in an active work zone during the past year, while nearly one-third reported five or more crashes.
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