I-94 construction crash kills two

Construction worker Rafael Castillo-Saavedra died after he and a coworker were hit by a motorist in a closed lane on Interstate 94 in Detroit late in the evening of Sunday, October 11.

The motorist, Marvin Harris, was headed east in his 1999 red Chevrolet near West Grand Boulevard at 9:50 p.m. when he struck another parked vehicle and the two workers, who were working on sealing cracks on the concrete. The construction workers were occupying a lane that had been closed to traffic for their protection.

Harris and Castillo-Saavedra were both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while the second construction worker was transported to a nearby hospital and remains in critical condition.

Geno Alessandrini, Business Manager of the Michigan Laborers’ District Council told the public that the accident is a reminder of the inherent dangers of construction sites. “On behalf of the 12,000 members of the Michigan Laborers, we extend our condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Rafael,” he said.

The accident is still under investigation by state troopers.