Driver, construction worker injured in accident

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

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A driver injured himself and a worker in a construction zone accident Tuesday.

Police say the construction worker was riding a tractor along the median on U.S. 17 in Bartow about 11:30 a.m. when a red Dodge pickup truck crossed the median and hit him.

The driver of the pickup truck was not wearing a seatbelt and is in critical condition. It's not known why he crossed the median.

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Police say the construction worker sustained less severe injuries.

"This is just another example of how we can't stress enough work zone awareness," said Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson William Thomas. "It's just important, whether it be road rangers or maintenance workers or construction workers. We all have a duty to be aware of what's going on in construction zones."

. . . hit this tractor Tuesday morning.

Both northbound lanes of U.S. 17 were closed for several hours after the accident.

The Florida Department of Transportation says in 2005 there were 137 deaths in Florida work zones and more than 3,000 injuries.

Police have not released the identity of either man in Tuesday's incident.