Close calls remind us all to pay more attention when driving

It’s been a rough week for those who work on our roads. It could’ve been much worse.

In two separate incidents Tuesday, passenger cars struck and injured two ADOT workers and an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper working on roadways. A tow truck operator was nearly hit in one of the crashes too. We’re grateful no one was killed or seriously injured in these crashes. But the outcomes could have been much worse. 

On Tuesday, two ADOT workers were hit by a pickup truck in a work zone on US 191 in Chinle. The driver told law enforcement that he was distracted. Fortunately, both of the ADOT workers were released that afternoon from the hospital.

On Monday afternoon, on State Route 87 near Payson, a car crashed into a DPS cruiser parked on the shoulder of the highway and nearly hit a tow truck and a passenger car. All three vehicles were on the shoulder of the highway where the trooper and tow truck operator were responding to the stalled passenger car. The tow truck operator dove under his truck to avoid being hit, but the trooper sustained minor injuries.

While the driver of the vehicle on SR 87 told troopers that a medical issue caused him to black out, these incidents are examples of the dangers highway workers and first responders face every day when working to improve roadways or assisting Arizonans.

It’s also a reminder that we all need to pay attention to the road in front of us when we’re driving, especially when entering and traveling through work zones. And don’t forget to “Move Over” and give emergency response vehicles room to work on shoulders.