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2 Workers Struck By County Vehicle, One Killed, While Patching Potholes [VIDEO]

DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Two Wayne County road workers were struck by a county truck on the job Thursday, one man was seriously injured and the other later died.

The men were part of a crew that was patching potholes on Van Born Road near Beech Daly Road, along the border of Taylor and Dearborn Heights. Both were on foot around 10:30 a.m. when they were struck from behind by a dump truck, driven by a member of the road patching crew, crushing them against another county vehicle.

**WARNING**: Video of the accident may be disturbing to some. Viewer discretion is advised.

Walter Carol, who works nearby at Ed's Tires, saw the whole thing unfold.

"I was standing right here and the three trucks were patching potholes. The van was in front, then that was second, the tow truck and that trailer with the asphalt in it, and then this truck was behind it," Carol told WWJ's Vickie Thomas. "You see where the shovel is sticking out of that trailer? Two guys were scooping up asphalt, putting it in holes and then this county truck come up behind them and it didn't stop."

The truck that struck the men is one that follows behind the crew with an electronic arrow board, which is supposed to protect the workers from being struck by other vehicles on the road.

The men were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. David Wolf, of Garden City, later died. Police say the 47-year-old was pinned between the two vehicles. The other worker, a 46-year-old from Detroit, remains hospitalized.

At this point, it's not clear why the driver of the truck collided with the workers.

"Horrific accident, it was terrible," said Carol. "The truck was at a crawling speed but it still crushed them because its so large and heavy. They were just going a slow walking speed and the then truck come up and hit them."

An investigation is ongoing.

The county plans to have grief counselors available for workers.

"Today, a member of our Wayne County family perished in a tragic work accident, while another was seriously injured.  Our thoughts and prayers are with their families as we grieve with them. This a terrible and sad day for Wayne County," Executive Warren Evans said in a statement.

The family of the deceased victim later set up a gofundme account to help the family pay for funeral expenses. Learn more about that HERE

 

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