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Worker struck by SUV in toll road construction zone

By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com and Mark Barber
By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com and Mark Barber

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A construction worker on foot was struck by an SUV in the Interstate 77 toll zone Monday afternoon.

The Sugar Creek Construction worker was hit on the I-77 ramp and The Brookshire. That person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

[IMAGES: Worker struck by SUV in toll road construction zone]

A lawmaker said the project is so dangerous that a state of emergency might need to be declared.

“If this person dies, I actually think the family should file a suit against the state,” Sen. Jeff Tarte, R-Cornelius, said. “I would file suit for involuntary manslaughter and criminal negligence.”

It is unclear at this time if the driver will face any charges.

Tarte said he is frustrated about the state of construction on I-77.

Channel 9 reported last week there have been 4,650 crashes over the two-and-a-half years of construction, an average of 1,860 per year.

That is a 62 percent increase from the average before construction.

The state Department of Transportation said the amount of accidents on the tolls is comparable to that of similar projects.

Tarte said the state and the company building the toll lanes haven't answered his questions and concerns about safety in the work zone.

Tarte thinks the state needs to start lowering speed limits and move the barriers farther off the highway.

“I am surprised we haven't killed multiple people with what's going on,” Tarte said. “Because it's just unbelievable. It just makes no sense why we allow this to occur.”

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