Sacramento, CA…Caltrans today honored the legacies of two of its employees during its 28th Annual Workers Memorial at the State Capitol. There have been a total of 188 Caltrans employees who have lost their lives on the job since 1921. Dignitaries, Caltrans employees, and family and friends paid special tribute to Si Si Han and Annette Brooks at this year’s memorial. Si Si was killed while collecting tolls at the Bay Bridge, when a box truck collided with several other vehicles and her toll booth on Dec. 2, 2017. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter and is scheduled to enter a plea on May 1. Si Si was with Caltrans for more than 10 years. Annette was a Steel Structural Painter Supervisor and was shot and killed at a Caltrans facility in Rio Dell on April 24, 2017. She started her career with Caltrans more than 35 years ago as a toll collector.

“The workers memorial helps us keep our fallen colleagues’ memories alive and recognize the tremendous loss that their loved ones have suffered,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “It is also an opportunity to remind ourselves that it is our responsibility to help keep our highway workers safe by slowing down, paying attention and moving over when amber lights are flashing.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, highway construction and maintenance work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. In 2015, there were 7,476 work zone collisions on California highways resulting in 56 fatalities and 3,853 injuries, compared to 6,525 work zone collisions resulting in 43 fatalities and 3,243 injuries in 2014. Nationally drivers and passengers account for 85 percent of the people who are killed in highway work zones. These numbers don’t include the close calls highway workers experience every day.

“This memorial serves as a somber reminder of the risks and dangers thousands of highway workers face every day just by going to work and serving the public,” continued Berman. “We each must do our part to keep California’s roadways safe for everyone.”

Drivers can dramatically improve safety in work zones by slowing down, reducing distractions such as talking on the phone or texting, dedicating all attention to the roadway. Motorists are also required by state law to move over a lane when safe to do so, or slow down when approaching vehicles with flashing amber warning lights.

Caltrans has partnered with the California Transportation Foundation to develop two funds to benefit the families of Caltrans workers killed on the job. The Fallen Workers Assistance and Memorial Fund helps with the initial needs a surviving family faces and the Caltrans Fallen Workers Memorial Scholarship is available to the children of these workers. For more information or to make donations, visit www.transportationfoundation.org.

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