Slow down, and pay attention: Caution Urged in Work Zones as 2nd Highway Worker Killed in 6 Weeks in Wisconsin

Updated: Wed 7:41 PM, Jul 15, 2015

By: Ryan Burk 

“Slow down, and pay attention”,---- the message is simple but project managers and Wisconsin State Patrol said those steps save lives for workers in construction zones. In less than three months, two men working for highway departments have died in separate crashes while on the job.

"We have seen just about everything there is out there, and it scares you with what you do see,” explained Dan Raczkowski of the Marathon County Highway Department.

Last year in Wisconsin, there were 2,264 work zone crashes that killed 12 people and injured 832, according to statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

In an effort to combat distracted driving, the highway department does everything it can to make road crews visible to you on the road. 

"When we are out working in the work zone, they are wearing what is called a “class three vest”, which is fluorescent green with stripes on it. And if they are performing a flagging operation they are also wearing pants, if we are working at night we are definitely decked out in everything that is highly visible”, explained Raczkowski.

The Wisconsin State Patrol said troopers take enforcing construction zones seriously. And fines for speeding in a construction zone double.

"What we encourage drivers to do is expect the unexpected, the lane changes, the change in speed zone. We really need drivers to pay attention when driving through those speed zones,” said Sergeant Dan Gruebele, of the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The Marathon County Highway Department said they don't hesitate to report bad driving in construction areas. 

"We train all our employees that if someone does come into a work zone and are driving erratically or dangerously, to try and get a make and a color of a vehicle and the license plate and we will call it in immediately to state patrol or sheriffs department,” said Raczkowski.

The victim in Tuesday's crash in Lincoln County has been identified as Marcus Wydeven, 50, of Tomahawk. Thirty-one-year-old Derek Stempa, of Shawano, was struck and killed May 26 in Shawano County while working as a highway flagger. Two people were also fatally injured in a construction zone crash in Calumet County in April.

Construction Zone Crash Statistics