Caltrans Worker Killed in Tow Truck Accident on 5 Freeway
SAN CLEMENTE, CA (July 23, 2024) — A 55-year-old Caltrans worker lost his life after being struck by a tow truck on the 5 Freeway in San Clemente on Monday morning.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on the northbound side of the freeway just north of Avenue Palizado, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The driver of a freeway service patrol tow truck veered out of lanes and onto the shoulder where two Caltrans employees had pulled over to clear debris from the roadway.
The tow truck collided with the Caltrans vehicle, reportedly running over the worker, later identified as Alexander Rodish. The impact was so severe that it launched the Caltrans vehicle into the air, causing it to collide with a Nissan Rogue coming up the on-ramp.
“Caltrans mourns the loss of one of our own today. Alexander was a dedicated maintenance employee who was working to make our roads safer,” Caltrans Director Tony Tavares said in a statement. “Our thoughts and support go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.”
Rodish, who began working for Caltrans in 2021, was an equipment operator II at the San Juan Capistrano maintenance yard. The Caltrans worker killed in the crash is survived by his two adult children, a sister, and a brother.
The condition of the second Caltrans employee is unclear. Both the tow truck driver and the Nissan driver suffered minor injuries, according to CHP. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
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