Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) employees who work on and along our state’s roads have some of the most dangerous jobs around. That was demonstrated once again last month in Crawford County.

An ODOT employee suffered injuries when a semitruck collided with the truck she was driving on U.S. 30. The woman was towing an arrow sign east of Ohio 598 on May 27. According to a witness, the semi, which belonged to a New London farm, pushed the ODOT truck off the road. The arrow sign got stuck under the semi, which eventually stopped.

The ODOT employee was transported via helicopter to a Columbus hospital. She was reportedly still conscious. The semi driver was not injured seriously enough to be hospitalized.

An ODOT spokesperson said that the crash should be a reminder to drivers to be careful when they’re in work zones. In a statement, they said, “It is important that they slow down and move over for all roadside workers. If they are unable to move over, we ask that they slow down -– not only for their safety, but for the safety of our workers as well.”

Road construction projects abound throughout Ohio and other states as summer gets underway. Workers and their employers should do everything possible to make sure that they’re seen by drivers and that there’s plenty of signage to instruct drivers to slow down and allow plenty of room to move and work.

However, there will always be drivers who fail to exercise the necessary precautions. If you’ve been injured on the job, it’s essential to get the workers’ compensation benefits you need to cover medical bills and lost wages.