Worker killed in I-465 construction zone identified - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A highway construction worker is dead after another worker driving an excavator backed into him.

The heavy machinery was being used to place concrete barriers at I-465 and Allisonville Road.

The excavator pinned the worker, later identified as 33-year-old David Anderson of Brownsburg, against the barrier. The worker died at the scene.

No cars on the highway were involved in the accident, but INDOT is using the incident as a reminder for drivers to slow down in construction zones.

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, in 2011, 14 people were killed in Indiana's highway work zones, 10 of which were motorists and not highway workers.

Indiana will observe National Work Zone Awareness Week next week from April 23 through 27. Drivers are urged to follow safe, defensive driving practices in highway work zones, including:

· Stay alert! Look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.
· Pay attention. Work zone signs will tell you exactly what to expect ahead.
· Merge gradually. If drivers merge as soon as they see the signs, traffic will flow more smoothly.
· Slow down. If you're speeding, you may encounter slowed or stopped traffic within seconds.
· Don't tailgate. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of your vehicle.
· Minimize distractions. The three C's - cell phones, CDs and coffee - are the primary causes of driver inattention.
· Plan ahead. Expect delays and allow extra travel time. Select an alternate route if you are running late.