Daylight Crash Brings Plea From Caltrans to Motorists

After a collision Monday between a car and a California Department of Transportation vehicle on Interstate 5, Caltrans officials are once again pleading with the public to be more careful when driving through work areas on local highways.

A man traveling about 60 m.p.h. apparently was trying to pass traffic slowed by construction activity and smashed directly into the back of a Caltrans truck, which was shielding a vehicle and workers in front of it as they painted a barrier stripe on Interstate 5.

Caltrans District Director Bill Dotson said the Caltrans driver was unharmed and the driver of the car received only minor injuries. The $5,000 Caltrans vehicle, which was equipped with a crash cushion to absorb the impact, was destroyed, spokeswoman Shirley Weber said.

Motorists Are Not Paying Attention

It is now evident, officials said, that accidents can happen at any time because motorists are just not paying attention. Officials are especially alarmed because the accident happened at 1 p.m. in broad daylight, whereas most such accidents occur at night.

“This is just another example of the public failing to pay attention and be careful,” Weber said.

In a nighttime accident last month, a San Diego man became the 23rd person killed while working on a Caltrans highway project since 1970. In response, Caltrans officials developed the media slogan “Give Our Employees a Brake” and began doing as little nighttime work as possible.

“I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again and again: people are driving too fast at Caltrans maintenance and construction zones,” Dotson said. “I’m pleading with all motorists in San Diego to slow down and give our employees a brake.”

Weber said “there are close calls all the time,” so motorists should be aware of current construction under way on California 94, a 7.7-mile span from Interstate 5 to Grove Street, and on Interstate 8 in Mission Valley, where a bridge is being built.