Anchor at News 5 Cleveland
Tuesday morning, two Ohio Department of Transportation workers were able to go home from the hospital with minor injuries. They were hit overnight in two separate crashes right by each other on I-90 in Euclid .
Tuesday, at about 1 a.m., a mobile ODOT crew was picking up litter on I-90 westbound near State Route 2 when a vehicle crashed into them, spun out and hit another vehicle. Just 10 minutes later, near that same spot but in the eastbound lanes, another vehicle smashed into the back of another ODOT crew. This crew was out patching potholes. During a morning news conference, ODOT District 12 Spokesperson Brent Kovacs said two impact attenuators were struck.
Impact attenuators are pulled behind ODOT plows or dump trucks. They are topped with flashing lights and arrows directing traffic to go around them. They're designed to protect crews working out front of the truck and help absorb the impact of a crash. They also help protect the driver from crashing into them.
'This is probably 10-12 feet long in its normal stage,' Kovacs said, pointing to the crunched-up crash attenuator. 'And it's completely crumpled up to 3-4 feet. 'The attenuators did their job; both ODOT drivers were released from the hospital with minor injuries. But ODOT said the job shouldn't be so dangerous.
'That's unacceptable to me because these people are just out there trying to make sure we’re safe and that the roads we drive on are in good condition,' said Matt Bruning, press secretary for ODOT. According to Bruning, 125 ODOT crews were hit statewide last year—a huge spike from 84 the year prior. So far this year, 52 ODOT crews have been hit in Ohio, which includes people and equipment. You could tell that the department is frustrated.
'None of these crashes should happen,' said Bruning. 'They’re all 100% preventable. 'He said don't drive intoxicated, cut out the distractions and keep your eyes on the road. 'We talk about move over and slow down, which is obviously key, but you can’t move over and slow down for something you don’t even see in the first place,' Bruning said.
ODOT said the drivers who crashed into its crews were cited, but didn't have any further information. Euclid Police is handling the investigation.
Euclid I-90 Mike Vielhaber ODOT
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