Construction worker killed by suspected DUI driver in Stockton
A construction worker was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Highway 4 in Stockton late Thursday night, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A 21-year-old Stockton woman was driving a silver Honda Accord westbound on Highway 4 just after 11 p.m. when she drove into a construction zone in the two far right lanes. Work crews were pouring concrete in the third and fourth lanes, restricting access to northbound and southbound Interstate 5, CHP stated.
Almost immediately after entering the construction zone at around 65 miles per hour, the woman struck the construction worker, identified as a 34-year-old man from Lone Pine. The construction worker died at the scene.
The man was working with Caltrans as a contractor, authorities said.
The woman abandoned her vehicle and fled on foot. She was later found at her home and arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, felony DUI and felony hit-and-run.
"This avoidable tragedy totally underscores the message we at Caltrans try to put out every day, and that is to please be safe in and around work sites and crews," Caltrans spokesperson Rick Estrada said in a statement on Friday. "These are dangerous jobs in dangerous locations, and the utmost safety is required to keep our crews, and those of our contractors, out of harm's way."
Anyone with information about the collision can contact CHP Stockton at (209) 938-4800.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Construction worker killed by suspected drunk driver in Stockton crash
