BENSALEM, Pa. — An accident in a construction zone on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bucks County resulted in the death of the driver and injury of four workers Saturday.
The accident happened just before 5:30 a.m. at milepost 355.1 eastbound in a construction zone near the Bensalem interchange.
Police said the construction workers were apparently using a vehicle to pick up cones to reopen a closed lane when they were struck by a second vehicle. The driver of that vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the workers was taken to Frankford-Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia, a Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission news release stated. Another was flown to Temple University Hospital and underwent surgery.
Two more workers suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for observation.
Saturday's accident was the second work-zone incident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike since Monday, when a driver struck another construction worker, according to the PTC. In that case, a trooper initiated a traffic stop when the driver sped through a work zone in Bedford County. The driver then swerved into the closed lane to evade arrest, hitting the worker.
The PTC is urging motorists to slow down and pay attention in work zones.
"This is a horrific trend, and it needs to stop now. Too many construction workers were sent to the hospital this week, and too many lives shattered. Though the cause of this morning's disaster hasn't yet been confirmed, experience tells us that speed and distraction are likely to blame," said Turnpike Chairman Sean Logan.
Extra Operation Orange Squeeze details have been requested across the Pennsylvania Turnpike in light of the accidents. Operation Orange Squeeze is when state troopers run radar from inside construction vehicles, while another trooper waits outside to pull over and cite offenders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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