Following construction workers’ death, workers say job is dangerous

A member of a road construction crew died Wednesday night.

A 33-year-old worker from Texas Concrete was pinned against a heavy piece of machinery according to police. It happened near the east I-10 Artcraft exit.

Police say a van hit a smaller vehicle, a Ford Focus, and caused it to swerve into the I-10 eastbound lanes and hit the construction worker. The section of road was narrowed to one lane prior to the crash for that construction.

Those who are familiar with road construction say it’s a dangerous trade. Pete Jacobs, who is currently the project manager for the Bridge of Americas project in east El Paso, said it’s scary regardless of the circumstances.

“You do move,” said Jacobs. “Trucks will move you, so will cars, the wind will brush up against you and push you back.”

Jacobs believes that concrete barriers make road construction workers feel safer, but even then nothing is foolproof.

“It scares me to death every day, when I go out there it’s mind boggling how fast those vehicles are going even at just 60 miles per hour,” said Jacobs.

The construction along I-10 has been rotating. Construction crews are blocked off by barrels and signs, but concrete barriers have not been placed. A Texas Department of Transportation worker told ABC-7 that all rules and regulations have been followed.

“Whether it’s a contractor, or TxDOT employee, out there safety is our top priority,” said Blanca Del Valle. “We do everything to follow the guidelines.”

Del Valle said those precautions include having an inspector from TxDOT on the site of any construction. Wednesday night was no different. An inspector told TxDOT officials that no rules or regulations were broken.

The identity of the man involved has not been released, however, a worker with Texas Concrete, the sub-contractor used for the construction near Artcraft on I-10, told an ABC-7 reporter that everyone within the company is in mourning. Texas Concrete is a small company, and according to the employee the construction worker killed was a close family friend of the owner.