SCOTT COUNTY, Minn. — 59-year-old Ricardo Perez of Thief River Falls has died after being hit by a car while he was working on a road project in Scott County on Monday, according to a Friday press release from the Scott County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's officials say Perez was working as a flagman at the intersection of Country Road 17 and 170th Street East just after noon when he was hit by a northbound Jeep Wrangler.
He was rushed to nearby St. Francis Medical Center in Shakopee, and later transferred to Hennepin Healthcare in critical condition.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Perez, an 87-year-old man from New Prague, and his passenger were uninjured. Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol are continuing to investigate the incident, but at this time it is not believed alcohol or drugs were involved.
Public safety officials are urging drivers to stay alert in construction zones this summer.
“This is a tragic reminder of how important it is to always be alert and use extra caution when driving in work zones,” said Sheriff Luke Hennen in a released statement. “We have a shared responsibility to help keep the men and women working in road construction zones safe.”
Preliminary 2020 statistics from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety say five people died in work zone traffic crashes, and 655 people were injured.
Here are a few reminders for motorists heading into a busy holiday travel weekend.
- When driving in a construction zone, slow down! Fines can double if ticketed in a work zone.
- Put the distractions away and park the phone
- Distracted driving is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota and a driver needs to focus 100 percent of their attention on the road in work zones and non-work zone areas
- Move over for construction workers. While it’s not the law, moving over will provide safety for not only the workers but the motorists as well
- Check out 511mn.org for road closures, detours and traffic incidents
