Melinda Peters, Intercounty Connector project manager for the Maryland State Highway Administration, recalled a fiery crash that occurred 13 months ago where the tollway project was under construction in suburban Washington.

"A construction worker was down in a utility trench and a driver of a vehicle wasn't paying attention," Peters said. "He veered off the road and headed straight for the trench. Thankfully drivers in several other vehicles noticed what was happening and hit their horns. The worker was able to get out of the trench just seconds before the car went in."

The impact caused a gas line in the trench to rupture and catch fire, setting the car ablaze. Fortunately the driver was also able to escape.

"It was a very close call in our work zone," Peters said. "We were lucky no one was hurt. And it wouldn't have happened had that driver been paying attention."

Victor Mendez, federal highway administrator, said the nation's safety record in work zones has been improving.

"Work zone fatalities have fallen for seven straight years," Mendez said during Monday's event. "But that still means that 667 people were killed in work zones in the year 2009; 85% of them were the motorists and/or their passengers and the remaining 15% were workers."

Laurie Moser lost her husband, Rick, in June 2007 when a distracted driver veered into her husband's work zone.

"The crash impact projected Rick 175 feet forward into a grassy median," Moser recounted. "He died upon impact."

Moser said Monday was her daughter's birthday.

"It's a bitter-sweet occasion as is any holiday or family event," she said. "We have no choice but to go on, because Rick would want us to go on. But I'm here today to put a face on this tragedy. I would never want to be on the other side of this story and be the one responsible causing a work zone crash and changing the lives of so many people."

Moser found her husband's name on the Work Zone Memorial wall -- a mobile tribute to the fallen that travels to dozens of work zone safety events across the country each year.

Leticia Guzman also took the stage Monday to plead with motorists to drive safely through work zones. On March 22, her father, Robert Garcia, became the latest Maryland State Highway Administration worker to be struck by a car in a work zone. Guzman's father is still hospitalized, but he's recovering.

"Put down the cellphone," she advised. "Stop texting or eating while driving. Slow down and pay attention to the work zones."

Missouri to Host Next Year's Event

The Missouri Department of Transportation has agreed to host the 13th annual National Work Zone Awareness event next April. MoDOT was selected from a group of five state DOTs vying for the opportunity.

More information on National Work Zone Awareness Week is available at bit.ly/NWZAW11. Additional coverage of Monday's event and a work zone awareness public service announcement are both available at www.TransportationTV.org.