EUREKA >> Caltrans District 1, which serves four counties including Lake, will honor fallen Caltrans workers next week.
Since 1921, 188 California Department of Transportation employees has been killed on the job.
One of the greatest occupational hazards of a highway worker is injury resulting from a work zone collision. While Caltrans’ highest priority is safety for its 19,000 employees that maintain—and the traveling public that use—the 50,000 miles of state roadways, drivers and passengers are at even greater risk, comprising 85 percent of work zone fatalities.
California’s Move Over law requires drivers to move over if safe to do so, or slow down when passing a vehicle with flashing amber lights. Fines are doubled in work zones and include infractions such as speeding, aggressive driving, talking or texting on phones, and driving distracted.
Speakers at the memorial include California Highway Patrol Captain Bruce Carpenter, and Caltrans District 1 Director Matt Brady, Construction Engineer Geoff Wright and Deputy District Director Tom Fitzgerald.
The Caltrans District 1 Workers Memorial will take place Thursday, April 12 at 11 a.m. at the Redwoods Empire Fairgrounds (1055 North State Street, Ukiah).
For more information about the event contact public information officer Cori Reed at 707-441-4678 or cori.reed@dot.ca.gov.
