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Police Identify Driver Killed In Construction Accident

ORION TWP. (WWJ) - A man is dead after crashing his car into construction equipment in northern Oakland County.  A work crew found the accident when they arrived for work around 6 a.m. on Silverbell Road between Lapeer Road and Giddings, north of the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Police have identified the man killed in the early morning accident as a 35-year-old, Auburn Hills resident, who is an illegal alien from Mexico City, Mexico. Police are not releasing his name until notifing next of kin.

A Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating the fatal crash that
occurred in the construction zone.

The 35-year-old was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier west bound on Silverbell west of Lapeer struck two Caterpillar front end loaders which were parked in the constrution area.

The driver crashed through two "Road Closed" signs before striking the front end loaders.

The driver was trapped in the vehicle and was extricated by the Orion Township Fire Department. The driver was pronounced dead on scene.

It is believed that alcohol may have been a factor in this crash. The driver was not wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation.

Ironically, Monday starts National Work Zone Awareness Week.  The idea is to stress caution in work zones.  Statistics suggest that the effort is having a positive effect on safety as the number of work zone fatalities has decreased in the United States every year since 2002.

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