Caltrans honors workers who lost their lives in the line of duty

It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in the state and has claimed over 180 workers in almost 100 years.

A memorial was held for fallen Caltrans highway workers who lost their lives while doing their job. It also serves as a reminder of the dangers some Caltrans workers face on a daily basis.

Cory Binns, Caltrans District Director, said that the safety of their workers will always be their top priority but they need the traveling public’s help as well.

“It’s a reminder to try to do better. That we need to make safety our culture. And we need to do our part and we’re asking the public to do their part. And part of that message is please slow down when you’re driving especially through work zones,” said Binns.

Daniel Hernandez, a senior resident engineer for Caltrans for almost two decades, said the thought of something going wrong while on the job is always in the back of his mind.

Hernandez said, “The risk is always there. Of course but also we provide a set of recommendations and safety practices to minimize that risk. But the idea of having an accident, of course, it’s always there.”

But Caltrans workers aren’t the only lives being claimed on the highway.

Earlier this month, a California Highway Patrol officer was killed by a suspected drunk driver while performing a citation on the highway.

Lt. Chris Hamilton of California Highway Patrol said, “We are aware that these cars aren’t on rails. You know it just takes one distracted driver or one accident, one slip of the wheel and they can come right at us.”

Authorities said that by traveling without distractions, more lives can be saved.

Hamilton added, “Because things like this, those 189 workers are a symbol of what happens when unfortunate events happen. And those self phones are just adding to those events as we speak.”

Caltrans officials said they hope to never add another cone to their memorial.