Worker marking utilities killed in Charlotte during crash. Police investigating.
A driver hit and killed a worker who was marking underground utilities early Saturday in Charlotte police said.
The worker, 59-year-old Thomas Reynolds Porter Jr., was hit while marking underground utilities in the left lane of Granite Street, off Westinghouse Boulevard in southwest Charlotte, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department news release.
Although Porter had a yellow reflective shirt on, his back faced oncoming cars as he worked, police said. Porter’s company vehicle, with flashing warning lights, was parked in the driveway of a nearby business, “giving no warning for approaching vehicles,” according to the CMPD release.
A 49-year-old Honda Civic driver hit Porter from behind at about 6 a.m., police said. The driver immediately stopped and called 911, according to CMPD. Medic responders arrived and pronounced Porter dead.
Police said they notified the state Occupational Safety and Health Division of Porter’s death. A spokesman for CMPD said the name of the worker’s company is unknown.
CMPD officials said the driver was not charged and was not under the influence of alcohol. It appears he was following the speed limit, police said.
Anyone who saw the collision or has information should call Detective Andrew Oberer of CMPD’s major crash investigations unit at 704-432-2169 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.