The Massachusetts Department of Transportation says a man who was part of a work zone crew was struck and killed on I-93 in Medford Tuesday morning and the alleged driver has been arrested for OUI.
The incident happened on the northbound side around 3 a.m. near Exit 33.
Massachusetts State Police say James Scoville, 31, of Chelmsford, struck the worker, who was on foot setting up a safety zone, then struck a work truck.
The deceased worker, identified as 52-year-old Bridgewater resident Thomas O'Day, was employed by HiWay Safety Systems, Inc., a firm with a MassDOT district-wide pavement marking.
O'Day's sister, Maureen, said to necn, "This is disgusting. He gets to walk and my brother is dead."
There are also questions about whether or not there was a police detail at the construction site.
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Just hours before the crash, Thomas posted on Facebook that he was concerned there was no police detail on-site.
“He talked to his wife about it at midnight about how he almost got hit three times,” said Maureen.
“I don’t understand how a company can allow their workers to go out there and work in such unsafe conditions.”
State police said they got a request for a detail last week, but could not fulfill it and contacted Woburn Police.
Woburn Police could not be reached for comment, and as of Tuesday night, necn was unable to confirm whether or not Woburn police officers fulfilled the detail.
Hi Way Safety Systems released a statement that read in part, "All of us at Hi Way Safety Systems are saddened and shocked by the events early this morning that claimed the life of one employee and caused injury to another."
It added,"We take great pride in ensuring our employees are operating under safe, well lit and clearly signed work sites while on the roadway."
“His big concern was about every guy coming back home,” said Jon St. Clair, a friend of the victim who used to work with him on the highways.
“That’s what the safety meetings were there for. He wants to make sure everybody on his crew makes it home.”
The worker in the truck sustained minor injuries.
The passenger of the vehicle that crashed into the worker was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
The vehicle involved in the crash has been taken away as well as the highway truck that was damaged.
Scoville was arraigned in Somerville District Court on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of liquor, operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and obstructing a stationary emergency vehicle.
Scoville is held on $2,500 bail and ordered not to drive, not to consume alcohol and to submit to alcohol screens. Scoville’s driver’s license has been suspended as an immediate threat to the public.
The next scheduled hearing in this case is August 2, 2016.
