Road worker killed in hit-and-run on Highway 99 in south Sacramento, authorities say
A Caltrans subcontractor was killed in a hit-and-run Monday night on a south Sacramento freeway, authorities said.
The incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. near the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard exit on northbound Highway 99, according to the California Highway Patrol activity log.
A pickup truck struck a pedestrian at that location, then fled the scene, according to the CHP log. The suspect vehicle was described as a Ford F-150.
In a news release, Caltrans identified the subcontractor as Troy Jacob Lohuis, 47. He was an employee with Highway Specialty Co. in North Highlands.
Caltrans District 3 spokesman Gilbert Mohtes-Chan said Lohuis was a subcontractor performing road work for the state agency as part of its larger 21st Avenue repair project.
Mohtes-Chan said Lohuis was setting up traffic control for the evening road work when he was struck. The agency added in a release that he was setting up a construction work sign saying “Lane Closed Ahead” when the F-150 driver swerved onto the shoulder and hit him.
“The entire Caltrans family shares the grief and sorry felt by Mr. Lohuis’ family and coworkers,” said Amarjeet Benipal, Caltrans’ District 3 director, in a release. “We offer our deep sympathy and profound condolences as this tragedy becomes real for all of his friends and family, and they must figure out how to face each day without him.”
Caltrans said in tweets that the right lane and exit to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard were closed due to the traffic incident. Both reopened around 2 a.m.
The CHP is investigating the collision and is looking for a 2015-2018 model Ford F-150 that may have damage to its right side and a missing side-view mirror.
This story was originally published July 27, 2021 at 7:31 AM.
