712 Digital Group - top

2 Iowa construction workers struck & killed by a distracted driver in Illinois

News

October 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

HENDERSON Co., Ill. (KWQC) – Two workers with a Burlington, Iowa construction company died Tuesday morning, after they were struck while on a bridge worksite, in Illinois. According to the Illinois State Patrol Troopers responded to the scene at around 8 a.m. on the Great River Bridge. The workers, identified as 20-year-old Pearson J. Franklin and 35-year-old Andrew Whitcomb, both from Burlington, were walking behind their stationary pickup truck and trailer, with the yellow construction lights activated, while setting construction barrels for a work zone on the Great River Bridge of U.S Route 34 westbound.

A 2016 Mazda CX5, driven by 21-year-old Emily Johnson, was westbound on the bridge hit a barrel, and then hit the two workers causing fatal injuries. The driver and both construction workers were transported to an area hospital, according to troopers. Both of the construction workers were pronounced dead. Johnson was cited for Scott’s Law – improper passing of a stationary emergency vehicle, improper use of an electronic communication device and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.