Following the death of an ARDOT employee, Arkansas police advise drivers to be cautious

Arkansas – Following the terrible death of a Department of Transportation employee on Thursday, Arkansas State Police have a message for drivers throughout the state.

Tragedies like this, according to law enforcement, occur far too frequently and serve as a reminder to drivers that if they ignore a construction zone on their everyday journey, it might change their lives.

ARDOT Spokesperson Dave Parker stated, “These [ARDOT workers] are doing some of the most dangerous jobs out there on a highway where people are driving 50, 60, 70 miles an hour.”
Parker stated that although the agency’s first priority is safety, tragedies still occur.

A member of the Lonoke County Maintenance Crew, Charles “Tony” Glover, 39, was struck and killed Thursday morning while repairing a pothole on Highway 13 south of Humnoke.

“To have something happen as it did, it’s just hard to understand why this driver apparently didn’t see anything and did not slow down at all,” Parker stated.

Visibility wasn’t a problem, according to Parker. Glover stood by an ARDOT truck with green flashing lights, wearing a bright vest.

“To start out the new year this way, and we feel for the family, and, you know, we’re kind of at a loss, really,” he said.

Another ARDOT employee was killed in a similar incident in November while working on a highway in southwest Arkansas.

“That has increased in my experience. Sgt. Gabriel Monroe stated, “People are simply not focusing on the road.”

Following the “move over law” would help prevent these kinds of occurrences, according to Sgt. Monroe.

“The move-over law is simply not understood by many individuals. “They say, ‘Oh, I slowed down, but they’re still speeding past a trooper at 75 miles per hour,” he remarked. “There is a family among the ARDOT employees. That driver is a family man. Consider other people.
“Move over if you can safely when you’re on the highway,” he said.

The norm is slightly different on two-lane highways.

It goes without saying that you cannot cross into oncoming traffic. You must, at minimum, stay in your lane. If at all possible, slow down and avoid going over the shoulder or the white line. You don’t want to cause gridlock, but you also don’t want to pass this man at sixty-five miles per hour. “Please slow down; he has a family,” he urged.

Regarding the repercussions for striking road workers, ASP stated that they look at each case separately with the assistance of prosecutors.