Photo provided by LoCO reader, Aaron Ostrom

UPDATE, FRIDAY:

From Caltrans:

Eureka – Caltrans Equipment Operator Edward Holgersen was hit by a car on Thursday, October 31, 2013, while performing a flagging operation at the Murray Road Overcrossing Bridge on US Highway 101 in McKinleyville.  Holgersen is currently in the intensive care unit of a Sonoma County hospital and is in stable condition.  He is a husband and father of four children.  His wife is with him as he recovers from his injuries sustained in Thursday’s collision.

“Ed and his entire family are in our thoughts and prayers.  Our workers are local community members and mean a lot to us.  We urge the public to please slow down when approaching any work site. Stay alert, and Slow for the Cone Zone,” said Charlie Fielder, District 1 Director. 

Caltrans reminds motorists that this year’s construction season is still open, and we are working hard to complete projects before the winter weather begins.

Caltrans crews continue to work on our State highways, one of the most dangerous job sites out there. Your help is needed to keep everyone safe throughout work zones by simply slowing down when approaching and driving through areas of construction. The lives and safety of highway workers are at stake.

For the most current road information on all State highways, please call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit www.dot.ca.gov.

UPDATE 10:54 P.M.:

CHP press release:

On October 31, 2013, at 2:05 pm, a CalTrans employee conducting traffic control for a construction crew on the Murray Road over-crossing above US-101 was struck by a vehicle, resulting in major non-life threatening injuries to the worker.  While the worker was conducting traffic control on the over-crossing behind a line of traffic cones, a 1998 Cadillac sedan, driven by 84 year-old George Hurt of McKinleyville, was traveling westbound on Murray Road approaching the CalTrans worker.  For reasons still under investigation by CHP investigators, the Cadillac drove through the line of traffic cones and struck the CalTrans worker.  The worker was transported by ground ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka and then transported by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.  Murray Road above US-101 was closed to through traffic for several hours while the collision scene was being processed.  The CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the collision scene to assist with the collision investigation.  The California Highway Patrol Humboldt Area is investigating this traffic collision and does not believe DUI to be a factor.  The CalTrans employee’s name is being withheld pending administrative and interagency procedures.

Currently, there are several road construction and maintenance projects taking place within Humboldt County.  The California Highway Patrol reminds motorists to use extreme caution when approaching and traveling through construction zones.  When driving through a construction zone, drivers are advised to reduce their speed below the posted speed limit and be vigilant of construction crew workers and equipment.

UPDATE 4:25 P.M.: Caltrans’ public information officer released the following statement,

“Our thoughts are with our injured Caltrans coworker and his family. We urge the public to please slow down when approaching any work site. Stay alert, and Slow for the Cone Zone.”

Original post———-

This is breaking news and details are sketchy but scanner traffic and CHP dispatch indicates that a Caltrans worker has been hit by a vehicle on the Murray Rd. overpass.  The CHP site is showing an accident there with major injuries. The road is closed in both directions.

LoCO extends heartfelt wishes for health to the victim.

Bottom photo by LoCO reader Gerard Gaudet)