This week, a worker for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) who was trying to assist motorists following a crash on Interstate West in New Orleans was struck by another car and died.
The crash happened at 1:49 p.m. on Tuesday in the right lanes and possibly on the shoulder near Canal Boulevard.
The victim was later identified as 23-year-old Eric Anthony Jr. of New Orleans, according to WAFB.com. The DOTD said Anthony was a Motorist Assistance Patrol employee and leaves behind a 6-year-old son.
A man in a disabled truck, which was pulled over onto the shoulder, told Fox 8 the worker identified as Anthony had stopped to help him when another vehicle struck the man.
“This job is inherently dangerous, and the brave people doing these jobs risk their lives every day in order to make motorists safer,” said Joe Donahue, DOTD secretary, in a statement. “We would like to remind everybody to pay attention, don’t drive distracted and abide by the move-over law when possible.
Anthony had only started the job in July, according to Fox 8.
Louisiana State Police said its preliminary investigation determined that the crash occurred as Anthony was assisting the driver of a disabled 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche. Anthony parked his marked 2018 Dodge Ram DOTD vehicle on the right shoulder behind the Avalanche, with its emergency lights activated and traffic cones placed behind the vehicles.
Troopers said Anthony was standing near the rear of his truck retrieving equipment to tend to the Avalanche’s flat tire when he was struck by the 2020 Nissan Rogue driven by Perez-Moran. Authorities said Anthony sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead after arriving at a hospital for treatment.
Oscar G. Perez-Moran, a 26-year-old man, was hospitalized but will be booked with negligent homicide and other traffic-related charges upon his discharge, according to DOTD.
The LSP said the reason that Perez-Moran’s SUV traveled off the roadway onto the right shoulder where Anthony was struck remained under investigation. His Nissan also struck the back of the Dodge Ram before spinning and hitting the disabled Avalanche.
Source: WAFB.com, Fox8Live.com
