SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police have identified a man who died early Wednesday morning after he was struck by a car while he was picking up signs along Interstate 37.
According to a police report, Lewis Winston III, 36, was wearing dark clothing and a bright green traffic vest while he picked up "sweepers ahead" signs from the side of the interstate near Loop 410 in a TxDOT maintenance zone.
Shortly before 5 a.m., the driver of a silver Chevy Cavalier traveling at about 70 mph swerved to avoid a car that suddenly slowed down in front of him, police said. The 23-year-old driver steered his Cavalier to the shoulder of the interstate, where his car started to spin. Police said the driver did see Winston standing on the median, but was unable to avoid hitting him.
A man who had been picking up signs on the other side of the interstate saw what happened. He told police the car was traveling at about 65 mph when it struck Winston.
Winston was thrown into the middle of the interstate, police said. He was taken by ambulance to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
The accident caused a traffic delay in the area, but officials had cleared the scene by 7:30 a.m.
San Antonio police are investigating the accident and charges against the driver were unknown Wednesday morning.
Police said the driver did stop and was being questioned.
Enacted in September, state law requires drivers to change lanes to move away from TXDOT vehicles alongside the road or slow down 20 miles am hour below the posted speed limit.
That's good advice no matter who is doing the road work, says TXDOT spokesperson Laura Lopez.
"No matter the vehicle, those workers need to be protected, too," Lopez said.
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