District: 11 — San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact: Barbara.C.Moreno@dot.ca.gov
Phone: (619) 417-3753
SAN DIEGO —Caltrans officials and staff, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and families of fallen highway workers gathered in the courtyard of the Caltrans District 11 building to remember transportation workers who have been killed in the line of duty. The ceremony included an Honor Guard, a moment of silence, the reading of the workers’ names, a display of cones to represent the fallen, and placement of a memorial wreath.
Each year, Caltrans pays tribute to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the people of California. The state has seen an increasing number of work zone fatalities on California roadways. Speeding and DUI were by far the most common factors cited. Historically, 18 highway workers from District 11 have been killed in the line of duty; however, even a single death is one too many.
“It is more important than ever to take special care and to watch out for our highway workers on the state’s roads”, said Gustavo Dallarda, District 11 Director. “Our work provides people and businesses with multimodal options to safely go where they need to. That work is very dangerous. I am making a plea to the traveling public to pay close attention to the signs, cones, striping and other installations that drivers to reduce speeds in construction zones.”
Two members of the Caltrans transportation family were lost last year in 2022: District 4 Maintenance Worker Quanda McGadney and District 6 Civil Engineer Shabazz Ali. On June 3, 2022, Ms. McGadney was struck and killed in Vacaville while working outside of her truck on the right shoulder. Two months later on August 8, Mr. Ali was on duty and heading to a job site when he was struck and killed by a driver who ran a stop sign.
Historically, 18 workers from District 11 have been killed in the line of duty; however, even a single death is one too many. Zero is the only acceptable number of injuries/fatalities. Safety is Caltrans’ number one priority.
Director Dallarda further urged the public to make safety their priority. Travelers are reminded to eliminate driving distractions such as cell phone use, watch for highway workers and moving equipment and to Be Work Zone Alert.
For real-time traffic information including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, and more, go to http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
Follow @SDCaltrans on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SDCaltrans and like Caltrans District 11 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaltransDistrict11 for news related to state transportation in San Diego and Imperial counties.
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