Driver killed after SUV crashes into parked construction vehicle on Highway 50 in Sacramento

A well-known capital restaurateur was killed Wednesday morning when his SUV crashed into a parked work truck in the freeway construction zone along Highway 50 in East Sacramento.

Chris Jarosz, 55 — co-owner of Broderick Roadhouse, Anonimo Pizza and Bones Craft Kitchen — was killed when authorities said his Land Rover collided with a parked construction vehicle on Highway 50 near 51st Street just after 2 a.m.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the dark gray SUV collided with a traffic sign trailer, which was active and pointing motorists to three right-hand lanes that were open at the time of the crash.

Jarosz, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was killed when his SUV ran into the trailer sign before striking the truck, which had two occupants.

The CHP said neither of the construction employees were injured. The work equipment is owned by Site Safety, a subcontractor working on Caltrans’ Fix50 highway enhancement project. Freeway roadwork, which takes place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the workweek, has been ongoing since May 2021 but the project had shifted some of its work zones on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Caltrans.

The highway agency says the project is 65% complete as of Wednesday, with an expected completion date set for December 2024.

The crash shut down all four westbound lanes for several hours before crews were able to re-open a single lane between 65th Street and the Stockton Boulevard offramp. All lanes reopened just after 6:30 a.m.

An investigation into the crash remains ongoing, the CHP said, and it was not clear if drugs or alcohol were factors in the collision.

This story was originally published May 24, 2023 at 11:13 AM.