Caltrans District 11 Remembers Fallen Highway Workers at Imperial Valley Ceremony

District: District 11 - San Diego and Imperial Counties
Contact:
Phone: (619) 688-6670

San Diego - Caltrans District 11 honored highway workers killed in the line of duty at a memorial ceremony held at the Caltrans Maintenance Yard in El Centro. The event paid tribute to fallen highway workers and reminded motorists to respect work zones by slowing down and being alert.

"On occasions like this, we are reminded to reaffirm our commitment to our own safety, the safety of our coworkers, and the safety of the public that we are all here to serve," said District 11 Director Ann Fox. "We urge the traveling public to pay close attention to the signs, cones, and other installations that remind drivers to reduce speeds in work zones."

The ceremony, held every Spring, displayed 195 orange cones to represent the workers who died maintaining the state's highway system. Speakers included District 11 Director Ann Fox, District Division Chief of Maintenance Shawn Rizutto, CHP Captain Ernesto Ruedas, and Hazard Construction Project Manager Fausto Gonzalez.

Members of the District 11 Maintenance Division read the names of fallen workers. Among those names were 18 workers from District 11, which includes San Diego and Imperial Counties.

California has seen an increase in the number of work zone fatalities since 2010. One of the biggest hazards faced by highway workers is inattentive and distracted drivers. Safety is always a priority for Caltrans, and the ceremony honored the fallen workers, reminding the driving public that safety is a shared responsibility. Work zone awareness saves lives.