Transportation worker, 60, hit and killed by DUI driver while working on interstate, police say

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) - A transportation worker in Connecticut has died after he was hit by a car while doing road maintenance work on Interstate 95.

State officials said Connecticut Department of Transportation employee Elvin Hernandez, 60, was hit Friday morning while working by a 2006 Buick Lucerne.

According to Connecticut State Police, the crash occurred on I-95 near Exit 20 in Fairfield after they received calls about a vehicle driving erratically.

Police said Hernandez was a passenger in a Department of Transportation F-350 dump truck that was parked on the right shoulder. He had just exited the truck for debris removal when the Buick, being driven by Edward Myers, entered the grassy shoulder behind the truck and hit Hernandez.

Hernandez, who had worked for the transportation department since 2010, was taken to a nearby hospital, but he did not survive his injuries.

Police said Myers showed multiple indicators of impairment at the scene, including poor coordination, low and slow speech, severe disorientation and constricted pupils.

Myers was evaluated for minor injuries at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, where police said he admitted to taking heroin before the crash.

State police said Myers underwent a drug influence evaluation and was determined to be under the influence. He was taken into custody on charges that included manslaughter.

Myers has been scheduled to appear at GA-2 Bridgeport Superior Court on Sept. 28.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said the state would lower flags to half-staff to coincide with Hernandez’s funeral when it’s scheduled.

Several state leaders have offered their condolences to the Hernandez family while urging drivers to slow down.