Two construction workers were killed in a single-vehicle accident that temporarily shut down Great River Bridge on US 34 near Burlington around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.
According to Illinois State Police, two construction workers from a Burlington, Iowa, company were struck and killed after being hit by a passenger car. The workers were walking behind their stationary pickup truck and trailer, which had its yellow construction lights activated, setting construction barrels for a work zone on the Great River Bridge of U.S Route 34 westbound as it crosses the Mississippi River. A 2016 Mazda CX5 traveling westbound struck a barrel and continued on, striking the two construction workers causing fatal injuries.
The workers are identified as Pearson J. Franklin, 20-year-old of New London, Iowa, and Andrew Whitcomb, 35-year-old of Burnside.
The driver of the Mazda, Emily Johnson, 21, of Gladstone, was written citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle, Improper Use of Electronic Communication Device, and Failure To Reduce Speed To Avoid a Crash. Johnson received minor injuries as a result of the crash.
US 34 westbound was shut down and reopened at approximately 2 p.m. Tuesday. No further information is available at this time, and the accident remains under investigation.
