Construction worker killed, another hurt on Highway 17, CHP says

UPDATE 2/10/17 4:32 p.m.: Cal OSHA said its investigation into what happened after a worker was killed and another was injured on Highway 17 Thursday afternoon could take up to six month.

OSHA said its trying to complete employer and worker interviews, review employer safety documentation, maintenance records and inspections. Investigators will also look to see if California workplace safety and health regulations were violated.

CHP said officers have already completed their own investigation but cannot release details at this point.

Graniterock explained the company is working on an internal investigation into what happened and is cooperating with CHP and Cal OSHA.

UPDATE 2/10/17 12:44 p.m.: On Friday, California Highway Patrol said Cal OSHA approved work to continue along Highway 17, where a massive mudslide is still covering the northbound side of the highway near Vine Hill Rd.

However, a Caltrans engineer told CHP it is still unsafe to start working. Crews are tracking movement on the hillside Friday afternoon and hope to have an update later in the day.

UPDATE 2/10/17 12:30 p.m.: A fundraising page has been set up to help Bobby Gill’s family, after he was killed while working to help clear a mudslide on Highway 17 Thursday afternoon.

For more information click here.

UPDATE 2/9/17 4:58 p.m.: A tragic scene along Highway 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains Thursday afternoon.

One worker killed and another sent to the hospital, as crews continue cleaning up a massive mudslide, left behind from rain earlier this week.

California Highway Patrol said work on the mudslide is suspended for now because of the accident, but may pick back up on Monday.

“The rain in itself is obviously a hazard, we get a lot of crashes in the rain, even within the closure, I don’t know if it’s whether related necessarily, but anytime that the elements are against us, it’s going to be dangerous for everybody on the road,” CHP Officer Trista Drake said.

The accident was witnessed by many drivers on Highway 17 Thursday afternoon. Dash cam video taken around 12:27 p.m. shows the scene of the tragic accident. We’ve blurred out some of the details.

A Scotts Valley resident, who’s asked that his name not be used, sent in video that shows what many people saw as they approached on northbound 17 between Vine Hill Rd. and the Glenwood cutoff.

Flashing lights, emergency response vehicles and a covered body in full view of the vehicles. Then a bit later and several earth movers at work clearing the mudslide.

The driver who sent in the dash cam video did have a child in the car at the time. The child was asked to look away and did. We talked to the driver of that car Thursday afternoon.

He said the traffic was going very slow at the time, around five miles per hour, to make room for more fire trucks arriving at the scene. CHP said one worker was killed and another pinned under a truck as it was backing up at the site.

“So we’re working on gathering statements, that’s the most important thing. We need to get a full statement from everyone who witnessed or was involved. Our accident investigation team is on scene, they’re doing photos and measurements, reconstruction to try to piece this all together, because a lot of times with these tragedies, people’s minds aren’t clear when they’re giving a statement. So that’s why we’re on scene trying to make sure that everything comes together and we get the full statement and a full idea of what happened,” said Drake.

Both men who were hurt work for Graniterock, based in Watsonville. The company said Bobby Gill, 54, from Los Banos. CHP said Stephen Whitmire, 33, from San Jose, was conscious and breathing when he was taken to a Bay Area hospital.

“It makes it doubly tragic because we are committed to safety and care about each and every one of our family members when we are out on the job site,” said Keith Severson from Graniterock.

Severson said Gill has been with the company for more than 15 years.

“He was um, really well respected, and just a really great team member and a really excellent worker,” Severson said.

He also said the company takes safety very seriously and tells employees to stop working if they don’t feel safe.

“This being an emergency situation cleaning up Highway 17, I’m sure that they were following all procedures and protocols,” Severson said.

CHP said the driver of the truck was Daniel Harrington, 39, from Salinas and fortunately he was not hurt.

CHP and Cal OSHA couldn’t confirm if weather played a part in the accident and are still interviewing workers.

Gill’s coworkers said it’s devastating to lose a veteran and friend at Graniterock.

“Even when you pay attention to safety, that’s just… it’s hard for us to believe,” Severson said.

UPDATE 2/9/17 3:17 p.m.: CHP says the worker who was killed during the accident on Highway 17 is a 54-year-old man from Los Banos.

The worker who was injured is Stephen Whitmire, 33, from San Jose. Both work for Graniterock, based in Watsonville.

The driver of the truck, Daniel Harrington, 39, is from Salinas and works for Hildebrand Trucking. He was not hurt.

UPDATE 2/9/17 1:59 p.m.: Another correction has been issued on the company associated with the deadly accident on Highway 17 Thursday afternoon.

California Highway Patrol said both workers were employed by Graniterock, based in Watsonville. KION has reached out to the company for more information.

Officers said the person killed and the person injured during the construction accident are men and they were hit as a truck was backing up at the mudslide site at Vine Hill Rd.

The worker who was injured was pinned under the truck, but was conscious and breathing as he was taken to the hospital, CHP says.

Construction work at the mudslide will stop for now because of the accident but may pick back up Monday, according to CHP Officer Trista Drake.

UPDATE 2/9/17 1:16 p.m.: California Highway Patrol issued a correction at about 1:15 p.m. on the incident involving a construction worker killed and another hurt on Highway 17.

Officers say both workers are employed by Granite Construction, based in Watsonville.

UPDATE 2/9/17 12:52 p.m.: California Highway Patrol says officers believe a Caltrans worker has been killed and another injured along Highway 17, as they were working to help clear a mudslide blocking northbound lanes at Vine Hill Rd.

But Caltrans District 5 & 4 said none of its workers were involved in the incident.

Officers said the injured worker was pinned under a dirt hauling construction vehicle and was taken to the hospital. The driver of the vehicle was not hurt.

Two lane traffic through the construction area is still open on the southbound side.

KION has a crew on the way and this story will be updated.

PREVIOUS STORY: California Highway Patrol says a person was hit on Highway 17 at Vine Hill Rd. in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where crews are currently trying to clear debris from a mudslide on the northbound side.

Officials said they responded to a call just after 12 p.m.

Caltrans says the accident doesn’t involve any of its employees and Santa Cruz County Public Works said they also do not have a worker who was hit.