ADOT says highway worker killed by vehicle along SR 347 near Maricopa
Dec 18, 2020, 11:00 AM
(Flickr Photo/ADOT)
(Flickr Photo/ADOT)
PHOENIX — A highway crew worker was struck and killed by a vehicle along State Route 347 near Maricopa on Wednesday night, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The contract worker, whose identity hasn’t been revealed, was hit while working in a maintenance zone on SR 347 about 35 miles south of downtown Phoenix.
“Highway construction and maintenance jobs are among the most dangerous in the nation,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said in a press release. “While this tragic event remains under investigation, it is again a reminder that drivers need to stay alert when approaching and traveling through work zones.
“Sadly, a family has lost a loved one. We hope all drivers will take that to heart.”
The death was the second for a highway worker on Arizona freeways this year.
Frank Dorizio, 55, was setting up a sign alerting drivers of pavement repairs when he was hit by a vehicle and killed in a construction zone along Interstate 10 south of Phoenix in March.
Dorizio, who was part of the department’s Incident Response Unit, was the first ADOT worker to be killed while working along a highway since 1998.
“Our goal at ADOT is to get everyone safely home with improvements that are made to your highways,” Halikowski said. “We need all drivers to treat our dedicated highway workers as family members, close friends or neighbors. Please watch out for them.”
The Gila River Indian Community Police Department is investigating the Maricopa incident.
