News Summary
In a span of 48 hours, two construction workers were killed in separate accidents on Twin Cities highways, highlighting significant safety concerns. The first incident involved a young contract worker struck by a dump truck in a closed area, while the second worker was killed by a truck with a boom attachment. Both drivers escaped unharmed, prompting urgent discussions about safety protocols and regulations to protect workers in high-risk construction zones.
Maple Grove, Minnesota – Two construction workers were killed in separate accidents on Twin Cities highways within a span of 48 hours, raising concerns over safety in construction zones.
The most recent incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday when Adam Frederick Smith, a 25-year-old contract worker from Seymour, Wisconsin, was struck by a reversing dump truck in a closed construction area on eastbound Highway 610 near the interchange with Interstate 94. Emergency responders pronounced Smith dead at the scene.
The driver of the dump truck, identified as Dianand Sukhram, a 57-year-old from Port Charlotte, Florida, was not injured in the collision. However, records indicate that Sukhram has a history of driving violations, which includes issues related to inspection decals and a lack of proof of insurance.
Following Smith’s tragedy, traffic on the eastbound lanes of Highway 610 was halted between I-94 and Maple Grove Parkway until approximately 6 p.m. to allow authorities to conduct investigations and clear the scene.
The accident was part of a concerning trend as just a day earlier, on Wednesday morning, Pierre Raymon Mack, a 29-year-old worker from St. Paul, was also killed while working in a construction zone on southbound Interstate 35W near Highway 13. Mack was struck by a truck equipped with a boom attachment while he was on foot in a designated closed area, away from traffic.
Similar to Sukhram, the truck driver involved in Mack’s accident, identified as Kerry Don Ingram, a 50-year-old from North Branch, Minnesota, also escaped unharmed. The sequence of events worsened following Mack’s incident when another truck driver clipped a stationary vehicle belonging to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), prompting a citation for hit-and-run and additional violations despite no injuries reported.
The incidents have drawn attention to the overall safety of construction zones, where over the last several decades, a significant number of workers have lost their lives. According to MnDOT, since 1960, a total of 36 MnDOT employees and 16 contractors have died while performing their duties on Minnesota highways. This alarming statistic underscores the pressing need for stricter safety measures and adherence to regulations to protect workers in these high-risk environments.
Both accidents have devastated the families and communities of the deceased workers. The construction work being done at the sites of these incidents was managed by New Look Contracting, a Rogers, Minnesota-based company, which now faces urgent questions about site safety protocols and employee protection measures.
As investigations into both tragic events continue, the hope remains that increased awareness and changes to policies will ensure a safer working environment for all construction personnel. Community and state officials are urged to collaborate on solutions that prioritize safety for workers in construction zones, aiming to prevent further loss of life.
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Additional Resources
- KSTP: Contractor Killed by Dump Truck
- Wikipedia: Construction Zone
- Star Tribune: Second Construction Worker Killed
- Google Search: Construction Worker Safety Statistics Minnesota
- CBS News: Maple Grove Construction Zone Crash
- Google Scholar: Construction Zone Safety
- Fox 9: Crash Causing Backups on Highway 610
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Construction
- Willmar Radio: Two Men Killed in Construction Zone
- Google News: Construction Accidents Minnesota
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