KDOT dump truck struck by a vehicle near Randall Road while workers did highway maintenance

CARPENTERSVILLE — The Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT) recently released information regarding a vehicle collision that occurred on May 1 at approximately 10 a.m. while workers were in the middle of performing their duties.

KDOT states that two highway maintainers were working along the 2200 block of Randall Road in Carpentersville when their dump truck with an attached Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) crash cushion device was struck from behind by a vehicle headed northbound on Randall Road.

The truck was in the work zone when the incident occurred. No serious injuries were reported.

KDOT explained that a TMA is typically mounted to the rear of a safety truck and is a crash cushion specially engineered to absorb impact when hit, which protects the highway crew working in front of the truck.

Additionally, the TMA reduces the force applied to the driver of the impact vehicle.

“A TMA truck can be the difference between life and death serving as a protective barrier between the traveling public and crews working on the highway,” said KDOT in a statement. “With motorists generally becoming more distracted while driving, highway construction zones have become increasingly dangerous for the men and women who work in them.”

KDOT Road Maintenance Supervisor and Safety Coordinator Mike Way also emphasized the importance of staying alert to temporary lane closures.

“It’s important for the motoring public to be aware of all work zones. Protecting our employees and working safely is our number one priority. We all want to go home at the end of the day,” said Way.

KDOT further added that in this incident, the staff on location and the driver of the vehicle were not injured and all vehicles were able to drive away from the scene.