DelDOT has confirmed a story that First State Update brought earlier this week.
Officials said for the second time in two weeks, a DelDOT employee was seriously injured on Harris Road near Townsend in New Castle County yesterday while mowing grass. The employee was flown to the hospital as a result of the injuries he sustained and remains hospitalized. The driver was charged with driving without a license, not having insurance, and inattentive driving.
“We are seeing far too many people driving unsafely and now have had three employees injured in just the past two weeks by motorists not taking basic actions like slowing down when approaching our workers on the road,” said Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan. “Beyond the safety of our employees, the number of overall fatalities happening on our roads is unacceptable. There is no excuse for it, and we are all responsible for our actions behind the wheel and will be held accountable for the injuries and damage that are caused by not being safe and courteous drivers.”
“Emergency responders and roadside workers put themselves at risk every day to help people who are in need of emergency assistance or whose vehicles are broken down,” said Cathy Rossi, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “To ensure safety, the best thing drivers can do is slow down significantly and when possible move over when they see flashing lights, further protecting emergency responders and those they are helping on the side of the road. Whether this is a police officer, ambulance, fire truck or someone fixing a tire or working on a tow, slow down, move away, and change lanes to create safe space around them. Their lives are on your shoulders.”
Despite seeing several months of traffic volumes down 50 percent or more statewide, there have been 91 automobile fatalities as of October 1, which is just three less than the same time period in 2019. There have also been 19 pedestrian fatalities year-to-date, with the most recent occurring on September 30, compared to 22 at this time last year. October is designated as Pedestrian Safety Month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Dagsboro- Delaware State Police are investigating a serious crash that occurred at approximately 9:12 a.m. this morning on Armory Road in Dagsboro, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper.
Pepper said the investigation revealed a 2006 GMC Canyon pickup truck was traveling southbound on Armory Road approximately .4 miles north of Murray Road. A 5-person Department of Transportation maintenance crew, who were all wearing yellow reflective vests, were completing work on low hanging trees in the same general vicinity. Several pieces of DELDOT machinery were positioned on the shoulder with their yellow flashing safety strobes activated. The operator of the GMC, a 32-year-old male from Millsboro, failed to provide proper time and attention to the roadway causing the right side of the vehicle to travel slightly onto the shoulder, striking two DELDOT employees, said Pepper. After the collision, the vehicle continued a short distance before stopping, turning around, and returning to the scene.
The DELDOT employees involved in the collision were a 37-year-old male from Millsboro, who was transported to an area hospital by ambulance for serious injuries and was released. The second employee was a 20-year-old male from Dagsboro. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance for minor injuries and was released.
The operator of the vehicle was uninjured. He was charged with inattentive driving and no insurance.
This collision is being investigated by Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit. Anyone with information regarding the collision is asked to contacted Detective A. Mendez at 302-644-5020.