Skidding Truck Kills Caltrans Worker in 5th Fatality in 3 Months

A pickup truck hit a Caltrans employee on the shoulder of the Antelope Valley Freeway north of Acton on Wednesday and dragged him to his death, making him the fifth highway worker killed by a passing vehicle in the last three months in Southern California.

The latest in the series of deaths has provoked local Caltrans officials to consider closing freeways to protect maintenance workers, saying the agency is getting desperate.

But a powerful state lawmaker immediately said he would oppose any such move as being too great an imposition on motorists.

The Caltrans worker was painting symbols on the shoulder south of the Soledad Canyon Road overcrossing when he was struck shortly after 1 p.m., California Highway Patrol Sgt. Stephen Ballard said.

The county coroner’s office identified the victim as Callie Buser, 55, of Canoga Park.

The driver, who witnesses said was maneuvering erratically before the accident, apparently strayed into the dirt median, lost control and skidded broadside to the road as he tried to accelerate out of the dirt, Ballard said.

The skidding truck struck Buser, dragging him until it struck a Caltrans truck, CHP Lt. Dick Stockham said.

The driver was taken by helicopter to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition. His name was not available.

“The driver will more than likely be charged with manslaughter,” Stockham said.

Caltrans has been discussing the possibility of closing freeways while work is under way, Caltrans spokeswoman Margie Tiritilli said.

“We can’t keep allowing our workers to be killed,” she said. “We’re getting desperate here.”

“It’s an alternative we’re going to have to consider more seriously,” said Charles O’Connell, deputy district director of Caltrans District 7, which covers Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

But Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, said that he would oppose routinely closing freeways to protect the work crews.

“I understand the problem and I’m sympathetic to the workers,” Katz said.

“But a policy of shutting down the highway anytime there is a survey crew or anytime there is even a minor amount of work doesn’t balance the needs of motorists and the needs of the workers.”