Chesapeake VDOT Worker Was Severely Injured in Virginia Wreck

Highway workers face dangers on a day-to-day basis on the roadways of Virginia. We have represented these workers and their families. We were saddened to read about how a Chesapeake VDOT worker was severely injured in a crash in Virginia.

Police say the 31-year-old VDOT worker from Chesapeake was severely hurt when he was struck by a vehicle in a work zone on I-85.

Police said the worker identified in media reports as Donald Wesley was struck near Petersburg by a Nissan Maxima drove by a 28-year-old woman from North Chesterfield, reported WAVY.com.

The Nissan was traveling southbound in the left lane on I-85. It suddenly veered off the road, hitting the worker. The impact pinned the worker against guardrail post equipment.

The driver who hit Mr. Wesley was charged with failure to maintain control, reckless driving, and driving while suspended (9th Offense). WAVY reported she was arrested for a warrant out of Chesterfield for failure to comply with a court order. She is being held without bond at Riverside Regional Jail for the warrant.

The cause of this crash remains under investigation. Mr. Wesley was initially taken to the hospital by ambulance but later transitioned to Med Flight for treatment of his injuries.

We are saddened to read about how this Chesapeake VDOT worker was severely injured doing his job. Our thoughts are with the worker and his family.

Chesapeake VDOT Worker Was Severely Injured A Month After a Fatal Worker Crash

The crash comes about a month after another VDOT contractor was killed in a Virginia work zone.

Early in February 25-year-old Dustin Michael Warden, of Carson, Virginia was setting up a shoulder lane closure when he was struck by a car on I-95 in Prince George County. He died of his injuries.

Virginia State Police said the crash happened on southbound I-95 nearly three miles north of Route 602.

A 27-year-old driver from Wilmington, North Carolina reportedly looked down and took her eyes off the road before hitting the worker.

The reasons for both of these accidents are unclear but distracted driving may have been a factor.

Teisha Wright, a resident of Petersburg who often takes I-85 told WRIC she hopes distracted driving wasn’t involved in the latest serious crash involving a VDOT worker on the interstate. She urged drivers to pull over before using their phones.

A VDOT spokesperson issued the following statement after the latest accident:

“We’re disappointed and saddened to learn of yet another crash involving a contract worker in an active work zone. We’re focused on the worker’s well-being and will work closely with law enforcement to determine the cause of this crash. Safety is now and will continue to be VDOT’s top priority.”

At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we represent injured highway workers across Virginia. We represented a former highways worker who was awarded $2.86 million after he was hit by a drunken driver on I-264 in Norfolk. The impact was so severe both of his legs had to be amputated.

No amount of money can make up for the loss of a limb or the loss of life but the injured and their families often have acute financial needs after a car wreck. Please call our Virginia highway worker accident injury lawyers at (757) 455-0077.