SHERWOOD, Ore. (KOIN) — Two constructions workers are in the hospital after they were struck by a car in a construction zone in Sherwood on Thursday morning, according to officials.
Sherwood Police said the men were hit near Southwest Elwert and Edy Road.
The 2 men were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance where they’re recovering with what’s believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
According to police, the driver blew past a flagger’s signal to stop. About 100 feet into the work zone, police said the driver hit the men who were working on the roadway near a trench.
Sherwood Capt. Ty Hanlon said, “A vehicle was traveling northbound on Elwert, ignored the stop sign (from the flagger) or wasn’t paying attention.”
After the vehicle drove past the flagger, the driver stayed in the lane that was closed, according to Hanlon.
The injured men work for Northwest Earthmovers Inc.
Craig Smelter, the vice president for Northwest Earthmovers, said the 2 employees have severe but not life-threatening injuries. The employees, who each have worked for the company for several years, were extending a catch basin lateral at the time they were hit.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the employees and their families,” Smelter said.
Their names have not been released and Smelter said their main concern is for their health and recovery.
A new development is going up in the area and neighbors said they worry about people driving too fast and blind spots on the hilly roads.
Neighbor Dave Gilmore said, “Well, I’ve seen them here flagging for the past week and this road is very narrow. And with a lot of construction going on with the new neighborhood going in here that’s been a concern of a lot of people with the flaggers out there.”
According to Gilmore, a lot of people drive way too fast on the road, which has a lot of blind spots.
Investigators are on scene trying to figure out exactly what happened and to see if speed was a factor or what caused the driver to not see the flagger.
The driver, an adult male who was not injured, remained on scene and is cooperating with officials.
Elwert was shutdown in both directions due to the accident, but has since reopened.