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Family, workers press committee for stronger roadside-worker protections after fatal crash
Summary
Following the June 2024 death of a DOT employee, family members, labor leaders and DOT officials urged the Transportation Committee to pass HB 7060 to expand training, raise penalties and improve work-zone protections for highway workers.
Family members of a Connecticut Department of Transportation worker killed on a state highway in June 2024 and union leaders urged the Transportation Committee to pass HB 7060, a package of measures aimed at protecting roadside workers that would establish mandatory work-zone safety training, raise penalties for endangering highway workers and expand options for memorial designations.
Family testimony and grief: Sherry Di Domenico and family members recounted the death of their son Andrew, 26, who was struck and killed while performing roadside duties. “No one should lose their life performing these duties,” the family said in testimony, and asked lawmakers to approve policy changes to prevent further work-zone tragedies.
Union and DOT support: Representative testimony from the Connecticut Employees Union, and DOT Commissioner Gary Iguolito and other DOT staff described daily risks faced by highway workers and the need for stronger protection. Labor leaders and DOT officials praised HB 7060’s proposals to require a work-zone and roadside safety course for new drivers and for drivers convicted of move-over law violations, increase fines for endangering workers, expand reckless-driving definitions on limited-access highways and consider permanent work‑zone camera programs.
Why it matters: DOT officials and public-safety advocates described repeated incidents of vehicles striking crash-attenuation vehicles and crews. Commissioner Iguolito told the committee the agency buys and replaces equipment “that’s being hit every few days.” Members asked DOT about enforcement, the planned summer rollout of permanent work-zone speed cameras and the need for stronger public awareness alongside statutory changes.
Policy details and questions: HB 7060 would create a mandatory work-zone and roadside safety training course for applicants for a Connecticut driver’s license and for drivers convicted of certain offenses; increase penalties for move-over and endangering-highway-worker violations; allow memorial highway designations; and broaden reckless-driving provisions for mobile device use on limited-access highways. Lawmakers asked DOT for cost estimates, implementation details and coordination with other enforcement efforts.
Ending: Committee members expressed sympathy for affected families and said they would review funding and implementation questions. Testimony suggested the bill aims to combine education, higher penalties and technology (work-zone cameras) to reduce roadside worker deaths and injuries.
