Road worker killed after getting hit by pickup truck in Van Buren County
The victim is a 58-year-old Dowagiac man
VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (WNDU) - Michigan State Police say a road worker was struck and killed by a pickup truck in Van Buren County on Friday morning.
Police say the road worker, identified as 58-year-old Rene Rangel of Dowagiac, was holding a traffic control sign on County Road 681 near 48th Avenue in Lawrence Township when he was hit by a 1997 Dodge pickup.
According to their investigation, police say the driver of the Dodge pickup, a 30-year-old Hartford man, failed to follow traffic controls while attempting to pass a stopped 2012 Chevy pickup. That’s when he struck Rangel and rear ended the Chevy.
The driver of the Dodge and driver of the Chevy, a 48-year-old Lawrence man, were not hurt in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation, but police believe drugs are a factor in this crash.
Police say the road has reopened.
Michigan State Police troopers were assisted at the scene by Van Buren County deputies, Pokagon Tribal & Lawrence Police, Hartford Police & Fire Department, and VBEMS ambulance.
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