Safety & Regulation • ELDT.LIVE
Connecticut I-95 Worker Death Renews Move-Over Warning for Commercial Drivers
After a CTDOT worker was struck and killed while clearing debris from I-95, commercial drivers should refresh move-over, speed, spacing, and roadside-work safety practices.
A September 28 update put roadside safety back in focus
Connecticut officials and transportation workers renewed calls for drivers to slow down, move over, and stay alert after the September 25 death of CTDOT employee Elvin Hernandez. CTDOT says Hernandez, 60, was struck by a motor vehicle while performing road-maintenance work on Interstate 95 in Fairfield. The agency said he had worked for CTDOT since 2010. Coverage of a September 28 court appearance brought the case back into public focus and reported that the crash occurred near Exit 20 while Hernandez was outside a DOT truck removing debris.
Treat the criminal case as allegations, not a final finding
Connecticut State Police charged the driver with offenses that include second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, failure to maintain lane, and other counts, according to current reporting. A judge set bond on September 28. Those charges are allegations, and the court—not a news article or safety briefing—determines guilt. For drivers, the immediate safety lesson does not depend on predicting the case outcome: never operate impaired, keep full attention on the roadway, and create space before reaching a person or vehicle on the shoulder.
Connecticut's rule covers more than emergency vehicles
CTDOT's official Move Over guidance says the state law applies to any vehicle stopped on the roadside, not only police, fire, ambulance, tow, or highway-maintenance vehicles. On a road with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, move one lane away when it is safe to do so. If a lane change cannot be made safely, slow to a reasonable speed below the posted limit and pass with caution. The statute and official guidance apply on highways and other covered roads; flashing lights are not a reason to wait until the final seconds to react.
A heavy vehicle needs an earlier decision
A loaded tractor-trailer, tanker, bus, or other CMV cannot shed speed or change lanes as quickly as a passenger car. Scan far enough ahead to identify warning lights, a stopped truck, workers, cones, debris, merging traffic, and the open lane before the shoulder scene. Check mirrors, signal early, and adjust speed smoothly. Do not force another road user aside, make an abrupt lane change, or brake so hard that following traffic creates a second crash. If traffic prevents a safe move, the legal and professional response is a controlled slowdown with maximum practical clearance.
Protect the buffer around workers and stopped vehicles
Expect a worker, responder, tow operator, or stranded motorist to step into view with little warning. A person may be hidden by a dump truck, trailer, barrier, curve, darkness, rain, or glare. Leave extra following distance, avoid using the shoulder as a travel lane, and keep attention away from phones, dispatch screens, food, and paperwork. Do not follow another vehicle closely through the roadside scene; it can hide the exact hazard the law is meant to protect. Resume normal speed only after the entire activity area and its people are safely behind the CMV.
Dispatch planning can remove last-second pressure
Carriers and dispatchers should treat roadside activity, work zones, and lane restrictions as real trip-planning inputs. Check official traffic information before departure, allow time for a safe lane change or queue, and give drivers a clear rule that a late appointment never justifies speeding or an unsafe pass. When a driver reports a blocked shoulder or active response, record the location and direction, update the route or delivery estimate, and share the hazard through the carrier's safe communication process. Do not demand a photo, message, or route change while the vehicle is moving.
The national CMV work-zone risk is substantial
The Federal Highway Administration reports that 248 of 821 fatal work-zone crashes in 2022 involved a commercial motor vehicle—30.2 percent. FHWA also says CMVs were overrepresented in fatal work-zone crashes compared with fatal crashes outside work zones. Those figures do not assign fault to CMV drivers in every crash, but they show why large-vehicle speed, spacing, lane position, and early warning matter. FHWA recommends advance information, early merging when traffic is free-flowing, attention to lane width and shoulders, and education specifically addressing CMV work-zone safety.
Trainees can practice a five-step shoulder-hazard routine
ELDT trainees and experienced drivers can use one repeatable sequence: identify the stopped vehicle or worker early; release the accelerator and check surrounding traffic; signal and move over when safe; otherwise reduce speed below the limit and pass cautiously; then maintain the safety margin until clear. Add a verbal scan during practice—worker, lights, open lane, following traffic, escape space—so the decision starts before the truck reaches the scene. The lasting lesson from Fairfield is simple: a few seconds of early observation and controlled space can protect someone whose job places them only feet from moving traffic.
Educational summaries help you prepare, but official FMCSA and state licensing sources remain the authority for current requirements.
Official sources
CTDOT — Statement on the death of employee Elvin Hernandez, September 25, 2026 ↗CT Insider — Officials renew roadside-safety calls after the I-95 death, September 28, 2026 ↗CTDOT — Connecticut Move Over Law guidance ↗Connecticut General Assembly — Section 14-283b ↗FHWA — Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety in Work Zones ↗ELDT.live independently creates and reviews its content. We do not present practice questions as official examination questions and do not guarantee a licensing result.