Does any other state have this issue.

**dlocke1419** · 08-18-06, 05:31 PM

Motorist being held in third accident involving highway worker
By Susan Weich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/17/2006

ST. CHARLES - An Affton motorist who was chased down by two highway workers after allegedly striking one of them, was in jail Friday, pending charges that include drunk driving.
The incident was the third time in nine days that a highway worker in the St. Louis area was struck by a car. The other two times ended in the death of the worker.

"We’re in disbelief that after all of the horrible tragedy that we’ve had in the past week and a half that this is still happening," said Chris Sutton, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation. "We just again remind drivers to use caution and be responsible when they get behind the wheel of a car, especially when they’re driving through a work zone."

The most recent incident happened about 8:15 p.m. Thursday and involved a worker for Penhall Co. of Rogers, Minn. The company declined to comment or identify the worker.

AdvertisementSutton said that Penhall is a contractor for the Missouri Department of Transportation, and is smoothing 17 miles of lane along Interstate 70 in St. Charles County.

On Thursday, workers were setting up barrels to block off the right lane of I-70 just east of Interstate 370 when the driver, 49, swerved into the area and the side mirror of his pickup truck clipped one of the workers on his shoulder.

The worker, who was slightly injured, got up and yelled that he had been hit, said Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Al Nothum. He and a co-worker jumped inside the co-worker’s truck and chased the driver eastbound on I-70. They caught up with him and yelled at him to get him to pull over. Instead, the motorist sideswiped them, Nothum said.

The motorist exited the highway at Fifth Street and pulled into Quik Trip. The highway workers blocked his truck and called authorities. Nothum said police were seeking charges of DWI and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident against the man.

Highway workers are on edge after the two recent deaths of MoDOT workers. Michael Poahway, 50, of Cache, Okla., was killed Aug. 9 by a motorist later charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. Poahway had been working for a construction company that was repaving a section of Highway 40 in Frontenac.

MoDOT motorist assist worker Ken Hoierman, 38, was at the scene of a vehicle fire on Interstate 55 in south St. Louis County Tuesday when he was killed. The driver told police she didn’t see him in time to avoid the accident. MoDot Director Pete Rahn has urged prosecutors to file charges against the woman.

Nothum said the slew of accidents was frustrating to troopers, who had lost four of their own over the past several years because of careless drivers.

"As far as I’m concerned, no one’s getting a warning anymore," he said. "If you’re speeding, if you’re driving carelessly, you’re getting a ticket. What else can you do? This has got to stop. It’s out of control."

**Piggybank Cop** · 08-18-06, 06:28 PM

Well you could just pull them out of the car kneel them down in the middle of the road and shoot them.

Then the message might get through; to a few, a very few.

**dlocke1419** · 08-18-06, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by 1sgkelly

Well you could just pull them out of the car kneel them down in the middle of the road and shoot them.

Then the message might get through; to a few, a very few.

The constructions workers need to be armed.

**Pedro56** · 08-18-06, 08:15 PM

We were losing so many construction workers here they made a bunck of crazy laws and we have Trooper Nazis watching the highways with camera trucks. It's insane, it isn't even worth taking the highway anymore, especially since Illinois has to seasons, Construction and Winter.

**Willowdared** · 08-19-06, 12:42 AM

We've had a couple fatals involving road crews....there is now a "Cone Zone" enforcement program.

**TXCharlie** · 08-19-06, 07:25 AM

Texas instituted a "double fine" for speeding if any workers are present, but I don't know whether it did any good or not.

One thing that DOES do some good (I see it often) is that now some road crew trucks have blue flashing lights instead of amber - From a distance it looks like a cop, and people slow down for that.

Also I've heard of many, many drunk driving accidents which have killed police and stranded motorists alike - Then it turns out that the drunk had been convicted several times of DUI but is still on the road.

One solution I can think of is to take away all their cars and sell them at auction upon each conviction - That would be much much more effective than taking away their drivers' license.

**BigDawg** · 08-19-06, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

Also I've heard of many, many drunk driving accidents which have killed police and stranded motorists alike - Then it turns out that the drunk had been convicted several times of DUI but is still on the road.

One solution I can think of is to take away all their cars and sell them at auction upon each conviction - That would be much much more effective than taking away their drivers' license.

NC has a law close to this now. If your caught DUI and lose your license, on the spot or in court. And your caught DUI again while your suspended you lose your car your driving. It doesnt matter if you own the car or not its gone and it goes to auction. I dont know if it has helped or hurt other than the hassel of the auctions.
I do like it though because even if its not their car it can be taken. Then the owner has to prove in court that they didnt know the person was suspended and didnt know they were going to drink.