A Virginia Beach, VA, driver is facing drunk driving charges after crossing through a line of orange construction cones and hitting a road crew worker on I-64 in Norfolk near Northampton Boulevard. The accident occurred at around 9:30 pm on April 25, 2012, and sent the contract employee to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with serious injuries.
The at-fault driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested at the scene for DUI. Other criminal charges may be filed.
As bad as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is at all times, the crash that hurt the highway worker is doubly inexcusable for happening in the middle of Work Zone Awareness Week in Virginia. During the period, all drivers are urged to respect marked road construction areas, slow down for crew members and be prepared to stop to avoid rear-ending other vehicles. Statistics compiled by VDOT indicate that 3,457 crashes occurred in Virginia work zones during 2011 causing 11 deaths and 1,816 injuries.
As Virginia personal injury attorneys, we strongly support the state’s “move over law,” which requires drivers approaching emergency vehicles and responders to reduce their speed and, when possible, change lanes. The same principles of safety — if not legalities — should apply in work zones. Highway and road crew members are essentially pedestrians. They require protections equal to those for individuals on sidewalks.
EJL