Contractor struck and killed by car while working on Grand Central Parkway
QUEENS (WABC) -- A contractor was killed when he was struck by a car that crashed on the Grand Central Parkway in Queens.
The 36-year-old was working on the side of the road when a car went out of control just before 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
The victim, a contractor working on the highway, was pronounced dead NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital.
The eastbound Grand Central Parkway was closed for the investigation at Northern Boulevard.
"The State Department of Transportation can confirm that a contractor working on a wall inspection on the Grand Central Parkway was fatally injured this morning by a work zone intrusion," a NYSDOT spokesperson said. "This tragic incident underscores the dangers our highway workers face as they work to improve our infrastructure. As there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation we have no further comment at this time.
Just last week officials announced a new program to keep highway workers safe on the job. The pilot program places new speed violation monitoring systems along New York state highways in active work zones.
The system consists of cameras mounted on 30 vehicles parked in various active highway work zones across the state.
Advocates previously pointed to a total of 225 highway worker fatalities in 2020 and 2021 in New York. They said the fatality rate continued to increase in 2021, which saw a 14% increase in work zone fatalities involving drivers and passengers.
ALSO READ | New speed cameras aim to make NY roads safer for highway workers
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