Skip to main content

After 3 Employee Deaths in Southern California, Caltrans Halts Routine Work

Support Provided By
Caltrans contractors
Caltrans contractors

A fatal collision involving a Caltrans employee in San Diego this morning marks the third death to strike the agency in the past 48 days. The incident, which also has resulted in the most deaths ever in such a short period of time, prompted officials to call a statewide safety stand down today in order to emphasize safety procedures.

"Every day, highway workers put their lives in danger just by going to work," said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "These three tragic incidents are sobering reminders that we all must do everything we can to keep our highways safe."

Highway workers' risk of death is seven times greater than the average worker, according to Caltrans. 178 employees have died on the job since the 1920s.

52-year-old maintenance worker Richard Gonzalez died this morning after being struck by a vehicle on a Interstate 15 connector ramp to State Route 94 in San Diego. At the time of the collision he was picking up debris.

Earlier this month, Jaime Obeso was killed while working on Interstate 8 in Imperial County. Stephen Palmer, Sr., was killed when he was struck by a trolley in National City outside San Diego in May.

All three deaths occurred in Caltrans District 11.

The statewide stand down means routine and regularly-scheduled highway maintenance work is being temporarily suspended as the agency revisits all aspects of field safety. Public safety messages will be posted to more than 700 digital highway messages signs around the state.

The photo used on this post is by Flickr user sonofabike. It was used under a Creative Commons License.

Support Provided By
Read More
A row of cows stands in individual cages along a line of light-colored enclosures, placed along a dirt path under a blue sky dotted with white puffy clouds.

A Battle Is Underway Over California’s Lucrative Dairy Biogas Market

California is considering changes to a program that has incentivized dairy biogas, to transform methane emissions into a source of natural gas. Neighbors are pushing for an end to the subsidies because of its impact on air quality and possible water pollution.
A Black woman with long, black brains wears a black Chicago Bulls windbreaker jacket with red and white stripes as she stands at the top of a short staircase in a housing complex and rests her left hand on the metal railing. She smiles slightly while looking directly at the camera.

Los Angeles County Is Testing AI's Ability To Prevent Homelessness

In order to prevent people from becoming homeless before it happens, Los Angeles County officials are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to predict who in the county is most likely to lose their housing. They would then step in to help those people with their rent, utility bills, car payments and more so they don't become unhoused.
blue themed graphic including electric vehicles are charging stations, wind turbines and trees, 2023 in reference to year

A Look Back at Climate Solutions In 2023

The U.S. may have a long way to go in its decarbonization goals, but these stories show signs of progress in climate solutions.