Caltrans worker struck, killed on Highway 99 in Lodi

California Highway Patrol officers and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department deputies investigate a collision that resulted in the death of Donald Lichliter of Modesto. Lichliter was a Caltrans tree maintenance leadworker who was applying fertilizer to trees. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Caltrans worker struck, killed on Highway 99 in Lodi

By Maggie Creamer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Friday, July 24, 2009 6:21 AM PDT

Comments (8 comment(s))

A Caltrans worker died on Highway 99 south of Victor Road on Thursday after being struck by a white commercial glass truck.

Donald Lichliter, 53, was applying fertilizer to trees along the southbound side of the highway and was hit while he was outside of his Caltrans vehicle.

Lichliter was a 27-year employee who worked from the Caltrans Lodi office and lived in Modesto. He is survived by a wife and two children.

"This is the first death Caltrans has experienced this year, and we hope it will be our last. ... All of our employees want to go home at the end of the night, so slow down," said Zelie Nogueira, a Caltrans spokeswoman.

The California Highway Patrol received the first call about the accident at 2:08 p.m., and Lichliter was dead when officers arrived on the scene, said officer Sid Miller, a CHP spokesman.

Rush-hour traffic came to a slow crawl as investigators photographed the scene and collected evidence. The right-hand lane on the southbound side was still closed at 6 p.m.

"When we have a highway worker hit, we take it pretty seriously," Miller said. "We want to prevent this from happening."

The driver of the truck, from Glassfab Tempering Services out of Tracy, spoke with police at the scene. It was too early to tell if any charges will be filed against the driver, Miller said.

It is unclear if the worker stepped into the driving lane or if the driver veered onto the shoulder, he said.

A Glassfab Tempering Services Inc. truck struck and killed Caltrans worker Donald Lichliter of Modesto on Highway 99 in Lodi on Thursday. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Lichliter, a tree maintenance leadworker, was with one other worker applying a routine annual fertilizer treatment, which is supposed to keep eucalyptus trees healthy and treat a bug called a lerp, Nogueira said.

When crews are spraying trees, typically they put up a sign notifying traffic that workers are on the side of the road and then park a half-ton barrier truck, Nogueira said. Then, one person drives a different truck containing the spray in it while another uses a hose to spray the trees.

While Nogueira said the trucks are usually off the road, Miller said CHP believed the truck could have been on the shoulder.

Lichliter was supposed to move to Merced to change jobs from a tree maintenance worker to a highway maintenance worker in the next few weeks, she said.

Information sought

If anyone witnessed the accident or has any information, they are encouraged to contact Officer Laughlin at (209) 943-8600.

There was one death of a Caltrans employee in 2008, and three in 2007, Nogueira said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced in a news release that Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

"Donald Lichliter was a devoted and hard-working public servant, who worked for Caltrans for over 27 years," Schwarzenegger said. "Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our appreciation for Donald's service, and we send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends during this difficult time."

The investigation is ongoing, and a special team from Sacramento was called in to help. The Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team is deployed under a variety of different circumstances, including the death of a state worker, Miller said.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blog/citybuzz.

Reader Feedback

lodimommie wrote on Jul 24, 2009 11:12 PM:

" My deepest sympathy to the family. We don't know all the details of the accident yet, but I hope that anyone who reads this will be reminded to PLEASE SLOW DOWN whenever you drive ANYWHERE near people working on our roads and highways - they work very hard to re-pave roads and other mainenance to make our lives better. I have family who work for Cal-Trans and hear so many horror stories of the reckless angry drivers out there not watching the cones, etc. (I am not saying this was the scenario in this accident) very tragic, again my prayers & sympathy to the family. "

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ameriCAN wrote on Jul 24, 2009 7:34 PM:

" Tuff job and people wonder why there are 3 or mores workers on a job site. I to would want people watching my back being the eyes behind my head to warn me when a driver is off course. These city and state road workers risk their lives every day to do their jobs but yet get negative comments from the public. I would not want to put my desk in the middle of the street. "

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Mrs. S. wrote on Jul 24, 2009 6:46 PM:

" Frustrated Mom,

I don't think T & C was doing anything more negative than stating the causes of tragedies like these. It's a negative story to begin with.

My prayers go to the families involved. "

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T & C wrote on Jul 24, 2009 5:18 PM:

" hey dogsforyou... Have a great week-end! "

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T & C wrote on Jul 24, 2009 5:17 PM:

" frustratedmom... "All I was saying was that there are many reasons a worker is struck and injured or killed." Now if I said the driver hit this man, "Now that would be an accusation"! Please read LNS articles, then comments before you offer your opinions! It really is important to do that! On behalf of the reporter, and all readers, "I thank you"! "

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dogs4you wrote on Jul 24, 2009 11:39 AM:

" mom, one of the factors that T&C mentioned could have and most likely were the cause of the accident that took the life of that Caltrans worker. The CHP along with others in law enforcement will look into the cause of his death. Difficult to get positive about this tragic situation. "

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frustrated mom wrote on Jul 24, 2009 10:07 AM:

" T&C-everytime time I look at ANY article online, you are there making your accusations. It's never anything positive. Get a life!! So sorry to this family... "

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T & C wrote on Jul 24, 2009 7:19 AM:

" THis is a very dangerous job, and be it inattentive talking on the cell phone, sleepiness, alcohol, or any other unnecessary distraction, this type of employment is very very dangerous. My prayers to his family. One works so hard to retire and look forward to retirement and ones life is cut short! "

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