Safety Isn’t Routine. It’s How We Get Home.

Just before midnight on Sunday, one Staker Parson Materials & Construction (Staker Parson) crew was working on a Utah Department of Transportation project near the interchange between southbound I-15 and U.S. 89 in Bountiful, UT. Approximately a dozen crew members were on foot and operating heavy equipment in the work zone when a suspected impaired driver exited the freeway during a high-speed police pursuit.

According to Nick Ulrich, Superintendent, the vehicle was traveling at more than 100 mph and heading toward an active work zone where his crew was positioned on both sides of a narrow roadway.

Fortunately, Bountiful Police Officer Jordan Burnett, who was not contracted with the project, had been monitoring the pursuit over the radio and positioned himself near the off-ramp in case the suspect entered the work zone. As the fleeing driver approached, Burnett made the split-second decision to use his patrol vehicle to stop the suspect before the suspect could reach the crew.

As the situation unfolded, many workers did not initially realize how serious the threat had been. Only afterward, when the details became clear, did the reality of what could have happened begin to sink in.

“We were so close,” Ulrich said after the incident. The work zone left little room for error and an impaired driver traveling at that speed could have had devastating consequences.

For Ulrich, the experience underscored the importance of the safety conversations crews have daily.

“I’d like to emphasize that even when crews go above and beyond standards, hold regular TRACK meetings, discuss potential risks and hazards, such as impaired drivers and do their best to prepare for the unexpected, incidents can still happen,” Ulrich said. “That makes the actions of Officer Burnett even more impressive.”

 

The incident serves as a reminder that work zone hazards extend beyond the tasks being performed. Traffic, distracted and impaired driving, weather and countless other external factors can change conditions in an instant. While we cannot control every situation, we can control how prepared we are to respond.

Ulrich encourages all employees to continue taking safety messages seriously, even when they seem repetitive.

At Staker Parson, our goal is simple: everyone goes home safely at the end of every shift. Achieving that goal depends on the daily habits, conversations and decisions that build a strong safety culture. Whether it’s participating in a TRACK meeting, identifying hazards before work begins, staying alert to changing conditions, or watching out for one another, each small action helps create a safer workplace.

We are grateful for Officer Burnett’s actions that night and thankful that every member of the crew returned home safely to their families. More importantly, the incident reminds us that safety is never routine. The precautions we discuss every day are in place for moments we hope never happen, yet we must always be prepared.

Click HERE to read more about Officer Burnett’s brave actions.