Caltrans honors employees who lost their lives in duty

188 orange cones were set as a memorial in Imperial County Tuesday representing the Caltrans highway workers who lost their lives while on duty since 1921.

These Caltran employees were honored for their dedication and commitment to their work.

“I know what they’re going through. Because we still go through it. It doesn’t matter how many years someone’s been gone. You think of that person still, on a daily basis,” said Maria Obeso, whose husband died seven years ago.

Obeso added it is hard being the spouse of a Caltrans highway worker.

“You just don’t know if your husband, or your son, or your father is gonna come home. Because of people not paying attention you know, when they are driving.”

The ceremony serves as a reminder of the dangers that these highway workers face daily while on the job.

Tim Gubbin, the interim district director of Caltrans Divison 11 said, “So if you look at all these cones that we have in front of you, you start imagining that. It’s a real stark message of the cost of looking at that text, taking that phone call. So please wait till you get to where you are going.”

Gubbins said that everyone suffers when someone loses their life on duty. “Your loved ones were part of our family here. We just hope that we never had to add another cone to this display.”

Caltrans officials said the safety of their workers and drivers on the road are their most important priority.