Horrific crash a stark reminder of need for work zone safety
By Barbara LaBoe
Less than a minute.
That's all that stored Rob Shepherd as he labored alongside State Route 3 supporting with soil samples on a geotechnical group on March 19, 2019.
Shepherd, a transportation engineer, had simply left his work pickup at the street shoulder whilst the group heard a semitruck barreling down on them, scraping the guardrail. They have been already status at the different aspect of the guardrail, but a couple of hit the deck, a few rolling down an embankment to get as distant as possible.
"I jumped and closed my eyes, after which hit and tumbled down the hill," Shepherd said.
Next they heard a "terrible explosion," Shepherd said, which was the semi remarkable the pickup and slamming it 150 toes ahead into the drill truck. The three-quarter pickup was overwhelmed like a soda can, slightly recognizable within the wreckage.
Thankfully, none of the team was in both car – however the wreckage exhibits all too obviously the risk crews in work zones face throughout the state on a traditional basis. A few seconds later leaving the truck and Shepherd virtually truly had been killed.
Today marks the delivery of National Work Zone Awareness week as nicely as our own outreach in Washington. Ceremonies are deliberate as nicely as shows to assist increase public awareness of the want for everybody to sluggish down and hear in work zones. The stays of Shepherd's truck could be area of 1 among these displays, alongside Capital Way in Olympia. Other shows are deliberate at a couple of of our nearby places of work throughout the state.
Many contain 60 barrels or cones – representing the quantity of WSDOT staff killed at the process on the grounds that 1959. Countless others had been injured or had near calls resembling Shepherd, who was simply going about a ordinary workday till he was all of a sudden diving down a financial institution to save his life.
Sadly, Shepherd's tale is way from unique. Far too a lot of our staff have had near calls, extreme accidents or even deaths in our work zones. It's tough to discover a group that hasn't had an damage or plenty of near calls.
"I'm so grateful I was out of the truck and none of the group was hurt," Shepherd said. "But it is a nice reminder for we all that anything like this could occur in simply seconds and simply how risky it will be at the aspect of the road."
And it is now not simply staff at risk. Statewide 94 percentage of these injured in work zones or backups are motorists, passengers or passing pedestrians.
The trigger of the March 19 crash on SR 3 is nonetheless underneath research by the Washington State Patrol, and it is now not identified what induced the semi driver to depart the street and strike our trucks. That driver was transported to the hospital after the crash, although he was alert and speaking when crews helped get him out of his truck.
What is clear, though, is if Shepherd had taken a quantity of further seconds getting out of his truck he doubtless would now not be right the following today. The mangled stays of the truck depart no room in the two the entrance or again seat for anybody to survive. From some angles it is tough to even understand it as a truck.
That's why it is essential for everybody at the street to do their section to hold equally staff and the traveling public safe. We work tough to guarantee security each day, but we also want the public's help.
"If folks can appear at this and assume 'what if that had been a household member of mine or a chum in that crash?' possibly they may all be further careful," Shepherd said.
This month – and each month – we ask all tourists to depend to:
Slow Down – force the posted speeds, they are there on your safety
Be Kind – our staff are aiding to hold you secure and enhance the roadways
Pay Attention – equally to staff directing you and surrounding traffic
Stay Calm – count on delays, depart early or take an change route if possible; no assembly or appointment is value risking a persons' life
Crews work whereas site visitors speeds by simply ft or inches away. They are there operating to hold all tourists safe, the two via maintenance or new construction. They deserve our respect and further attention.
As the stays of the pickup Shepherd was riding shows, lives will be replaced or misplaced in simply seconds.
Less than a minute.
That's all that stored Rob Shepherd as he labored alongside State Route 3 supporting with soil samples on a geotechnical group on March 19, 2019.
Shepherd, a transportation engineer, had simply left his work pickup at the street shoulder whilst the group heard a semitruck barreling down on them, scraping the guardrail. They have been already status at the different aspect of the guardrail, but a couple of hit the deck, a few rolling down an embankment to get as distant as possible.
"I jumped and closed my eyes, after which hit and tumbled down the hill," Shepherd said.
Next they heard a "terrible explosion," Shepherd said, which was the semi remarkable the pickup and slamming it 150 toes ahead into the drill truck. The three-quarter pickup was overwhelmed like a soda can, slightly recognizable within the wreckage.
 |
| The crushed pickup is smashed up against a drill truck with the semi cab resting on top of it. |
Thankfully, none of the team was in both car – however the wreckage exhibits all too obviously the risk crews in work zones face throughout the state on a traditional basis. A few seconds later leaving the truck and Shepherd virtually truly had been killed.
 |
| Depending on the angle, the remains of the crushed pickup from the March 19 work zone crash are barely recognizable. |
Today marks the delivery of National Work Zone Awareness week as nicely as our own outreach in Washington. Ceremonies are deliberate as nicely as shows to assist increase public awareness of the want for everybody to sluggish down and hear in work zones. The stays of Shepherd's truck could be area of 1 among these displays, alongside Capital Way in Olympia. Other shows are deliberate at a couple of of our nearby places of work throughout the state.
 |
| 60 barrels line the entrance of our Northwest Region headquarters in Shoreline, one of several regional displays for National Work Zone Awareness Week. |
Many contain 60 barrels or cones – representing the quantity of WSDOT staff killed at the process on the grounds that 1959. Countless others had been injured or had near calls resembling Shepherd, who was simply going about a ordinary workday till he was all of a sudden diving down a financial institution to save his life.
Sadly, Shepherd's tale is way from unique. Far too a lot of our staff have had near calls, extreme accidents or even deaths in our work zones. It's tough to discover a group that hasn't had an damage or plenty of near calls.
"I'm so grateful I was out of the truck and none of the group was hurt," Shepherd said. "But it is a nice reminder for we all that anything like this could occur in simply seconds and simply how risky it will be at the aspect of the road."
And it is now not simply staff at risk. Statewide 94 percentage of these injured in work zones or backups are motorists, passengers or passing pedestrians.
The trigger of the March 19 crash on SR 3 is nonetheless underneath research by the Washington State Patrol, and it is now not identified what induced the semi driver to depart the street and strike our trucks. That driver was transported to the hospital after the crash, although he was alert and speaking when crews helped get him out of his truck.
What is clear, though, is if Shepherd had taken a quantity of further seconds getting out of his truck he doubtless would now not be right the following today. The mangled stays of the truck depart no room in the two the entrance or again seat for anybody to survive. From some angles it is tough to even understand it as a truck.
That's why it is essential for everybody at the street to do their section to hold equally staff and the traveling public safe. We work tough to guarantee security each day, but we also want the public's help.
"If folks can appear at this and assume 'what if that had been a household member of mine or a chum in that crash?' possibly they may all be further careful," Shepherd said.
This month – and each month – we ask all tourists to depend to:
Slow Down – force the posted speeds, they are there on your safety
Be Kind – our staff are aiding to hold you secure and enhance the roadways
Pay Attention – equally to staff directing you and surrounding traffic
Stay Calm – count on delays, depart early or take an change route if possible; no assembly or appointment is value risking a persons' life
Crews work whereas site visitors speeds by simply ft or inches away. They are there operating to hold all tourists safe, the two via maintenance or new construction. They deserve our respect and further attention.
As the stays of the pickup Shepherd was riding shows, lives will be replaced or misplaced in simply seconds.
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