Quote:
Originally Posted by cyberfox
While critical of the handling of the roads after a snow I have to commend Huntsville, Madison and the county for their work in clearing streets. Best I have seen here.
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It is a matter of opinion, but the maintenace workers were out several hours before the snow started spreading salt and sand on roadways, with emphasis on bridges. Some of them worked non stop for 36 hours trying to keep up with the snowfall. This is the fate of one of them.
Road worker dies after fall during storm
By Bernie Delinski
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 11:01 p.m.
Phil Campbell resident Charlie Huggins called his wife early Jan. 10 and told her it was snowing so hard on Spruce Pine Mountain it was blinding.
Later that morning, the 56-year-old Alabama Department of Transportation worker slipped on ice and broke his neck.
Huggins died from his injuries Saturday morning at Huntsville Hospital, his father-in-law, Ed Rogers, said.
The accident occurred about 4:30 a.m. on U.S. 43, officials said.
“Nobody really knows exactly what happened,” Rogers said.
“The guy working with him said when he turned around and saw Charlie, (he was feet up) on a snow bank and head on the pavement. He broke his neck and severed his spinal cord.”
Rogers said Huggins apparently had gotten off a grader, stepped on a snow bank and slipped.
“He was a fine fellow,” Rogers said. “I have always said that. He had a lot of good friends. Sometimes you can judge a guy’s character by the friends he’s got.”
Tony Harris, a spokesman for the transportation department, said Huggins was a senior highway maintenance technician who had been with the department for 22 years. He was assigned to the Moulton division office, Harris said.
“His boss and coworkers say that he was an outstanding employee and really brought a lot of skill and commitment to the job,” Harris said. “He took pride in what he did. It’s easy for the public to take for granted the commitment and dedication of highway workers to the department’s mission of providing a safe, efficient highway system.”
Rogers said his son-in-law planned to retire within two years. Harris loved to farm and he and Rogers raised cattle.
“He was looking forward to retirement, where we could spend a lot of time on the farm and go to cattle sales and stuff like that,” Rogers said. “He liked to fish. He’d just bought a new boat and never got to use it.”
Huggins’ wife of 25 years, Joan Huggins, is devastated by the tragedy, Rogers said. The Huggins do not have children.
“She’s not even talking to people,” Rogers said. “I’m the only one who can get into their house. It’s just terrible.”
Rogers said Huggins was taken to Huntsville Hospital’s trauma center and was able to communicate just before he died about 2 a.m. Saturday.
“He was in a condition that, even if he lived, doctors said he’d never even be able to sit in a wheelchair,” Rogers said. “They said he would be in an institution where somebody would turn him every so often and he’d have no body function whatever. He wouldn’t want to live that way. I wouldn’t want to live that way.”
One of the last people Huggins talked with was a grandson of Rogers’.
“They were real close,” Rogers said. “He asked who was in the room and where Mark was, and talked to him on the telephone just within hours before his death. He finally got to where he couldn’t say anything. It would get you. Man, it would get you.
“I saw a comment someone made in the paper, where somebody complained about highway workers not getting out and cleaning enough during the snow. But you know, everyone had a five-day warning that the snow was coming so you could get out and get what you needed ahead of time. Just stay off the roads in conditions like this. It’s not worth it. It’s just not worth it.”
I had talked to him several times over the years for just a couple of minutes at a time, and he was always very respectful, and friendly. He always seemed to be in a good mood, and if you said hello to him, then he was your friend.
Roadwork is inherently dangerous, and snow and ice make it much more so. How many of you would work in these conditions? How many of you would work alongside a paving crew, standing on the traffic side of the centerline, as traffic speeds by at 55mph and above, while you are less than 2' away from that traffic. If you wonder why you see them facing the traffic so much, it is because they can see who may be about to run them over. Yes, we see you talking on cell phones, texting, reading books, applying makeup, whatever. Is is possible for anyone to please stop what they are doing, and pay attention to the road work and workers, for just a few minutes out of your busy schedules. How would you feel if you hit one of us, just because you were texting someone that you would be a little late getting to their home or place of work because road construction delayed your trip.
Put yourselves in our shoes, and I bet that most everyone here would run for their lives to get away from the traffic. Yes, it is scary, yet state, county and city workers put their lives on the line every day while at work, so that you can have good roads to drive on. We don't ask for much. Mainly obey the posted speed limit (which is still way too fast), and watch out for us as you go by. Our attention isn't on the traffic most of the time, and we do sometimes take a step in the wrong direction that could be fatal to us. So please be careful. That is all I ask.
The state lost a good worker because of a simple mistake, and he will be missed by those who knew and loved him.
Regards, Colin
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