Construction Worker on JTB Near I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida Hit and Killed by SUV Driver
A construction worker who was painting stripes on the road at J. Turner Butler Boulevard (JTB) near I-95 in Jacksonville, Florida was hit by an SUV and killed yesterday according to an article in News4Jax.com. Michael O'Hara, an employee of Superior Construction, was the construction worker who was killed while working in the late morning, daylight hours yesterday.
Like just about all road construction workers, the construction workers who are working along the road on JTB near the on-ramp to I-95 are well marked with their bright orange attire. Working construction is normally a dangerous job, but it can be extremely dangerous when construction workers are working on or near the roads so close to fast moving vehicles. This is particularly so at the on-ramp from JTB to I-95, which is a very heavily traveled area. It is very important for drivers to slow down and pay extra attention to their surroundings when construction workers are present. In the context of a wrongful death lawsuit, evidence that a driver failed to slow down and move away from construction workers is usually a clear indication of negligent, or even reckless, driving. Due to the dangers faced by road construction workers, laws have been enacted in Florida to increase fines when drivers speed through construction zones. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol officers have stepped up enforcement to stop and ticket drivers who are not driving properly in construction zones. It is not clear what tickets or possible criminal charges the driver of the SUV may be facing, but the subsequent investigation will uncover all of the factors that led to this incident.
