District 11

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Contact: Public Information Officer Hayden Manning

Phone: (619) 688-6670

Caltrans Applauds Highway Workers For Coming To Rescue On I-805

SAN DIEGO – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) expressed its gratitude to the group of contractor’s employees who are reported to have come to the rescue of a family after its vehicle was involved in collision this morning on northbound Interstate 805 near Sorrento Valley Road.

Eyewitness accounts of the incident indicate the family’s vehicle may have been cut-off by another vehicle. It then spun out of control and rolled up onto a wall in a nearby highway construction zone. At least a half dozen employees from Diablo Contractors Inc. of San Ramon working 20-feet below used a fork-lift to help stabilize the teetering vehicle and then climbed ladders to free four of the five passengers. The fifth passenger had to be extricated by firefighters.

“We will know more once we get a chance to review reports on the incident, but eyewitness accounts say these workers are heroes,” said Caltrans District Director Laurie Berman. “I understand they are modest and have no comments at this time, but I want to recognize them and say how truly proud we are to have them as partners on this project. I am sure they didn’t wake up this morning thinking they were going to save lives.”

The work at that location is part of the $90.3 million I-805/Carroll Canyon Road Extension Project. It is scheduled to be opened to traffic in about a year.

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