According to police, a road construction worker was killed by a utility vehicle on Route 22 in Hanover Township on April 9. The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m. The victim, a 43-year-old Connellsville man, was part of a construction crew working to repair a guardrail near Burgettstown that had been damaged by an earlier crash.
Authorities said a utility vehicle was backing up on the construction site and struck him while he had his back turned. The driver of the vehicle apparently could not see him. The Washington County coroner ruled his death an accident and said he died from blunt force trauma to his trunk and head. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the victim was an employee for a road construction contractor. Westbound Route 22 was shut down while police investigated and cleared the scene.
Construction companies are required to maintain a safe work environment for their employees, but construction accidents are still a common occurrence. Most construction employees are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, which helps pay for medical bills and a portion of lost wages in the event a worker is injured. This insurance also provides death benefits to the family of a covered worker who is killed on the job.
The family of a deceased worker may wish to consult with an attorney to gain a better understanding of the workers’ compensation claims process. An attorney could help a bereaved family prepare their claim, gather the required documentation and meet all filing deadlines. A legal representative could also be of assistance in the event the claim is disputed or denied.
Source: WTAE, “Worker killed in crash on Route 22 in Washington County,” April 9, 2015