3 dead, including 2 CDOT employees in highway accident

PALISADE, Colorado (KKTV) – State officials say they are deeply saddened after two road workers were killed on the job Wednesday.

“Our team is absolutely devastated to be here today,” CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said in a press conference about the tragedy.

The two Colorado Department of Transportation (COT) employees were performing maintenance on Highway 6 east of Grand Junction when an oncoming Jeep left the road, according to the State Patrol.

“We believe the two CDOT employees who were on scene were returning to their truck when the Jeep Grand Cherokee collided with both them and the CDOT truck parked at the scene,” said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol.

Both workers were killed and the force of the impact caused the Jeep to overturn, killing the passenger.

“I cannot stress enough that today is a tragic day for Colorado,” Packard said.

Packard and Lew both stressed that the terrible events could have been prevented.

“The people who are out there working on the road, this is their office and they are out there to protect travelers,” Lew said. “If you see vehicles stopped on the side of the road, please, please treat them like they are your own family. Drive slowly, pull over and make sure they can safely do the job they do every day to protect the rest of us.”

“Three people lost their lives. And any time something like this happens, it is heartbreaking and tragic. And today is no exception. My condolences go out to our friends at CDOT who work side by side with our police officers every day,” said Packard. “… And of course, the driver of [the Jeep] lost a loved one today.”

The passenger in the Jeep was reportedly the driver's wife, whose identity is not yet known.

The driver suffered minor injuries and may face criminal charges.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and we will work closely with the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office,” Packard said.

Over the past few decades, Colorado has seen a rising number of deaths, injuries and near-misses caused by state police, road workers, stranded drivers and others parked on the side of the road. In response, the state passed a “move over” law several years ago, which it strengthened last year. The original version of the law required drivers to pull over when passing emergency responders on the side of the road or, if that wasn't possible, to slow down significantly; the current version, which will be signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in 2023, extends this to all vehicles.

Polis issued a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the triple tragedy.

“Today in Mesa County, two dedicated Colorado Department of Transportation (CDT) employees were struck by a passing vehicle after they stopped on the side of the road to repair a sign. Three people lost their lives and a fourth was hospitalized. I am heartbroken by this horrific accident and my thoughts are with the families of those affected, CDOT and communities. These Coloradans will be missed by their state, their families and their communities. I speak for the entire state when I say they will be missed.”

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