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2 construction workers killed in crash on Great River Bridge

Illinois State Police say the workers were walking behind their truck when they were struck by a car that crashed through construction barrels.

BURLINGTON, Iowa — Two construction workers from a Burlington, Iowa company are dead after a crash on Great River Bridge Tuesday morning, according to Illinois State Police.

At about 8:03 a.m. on Oct. 18, the two workers were walking behind their stationary pickup truck while placing construction barrels for a work zone on the U.S. Route 34 bridge. The truck's yellow construction lights were on at the time of the incident.

A car was traveling westbound when it crashed into one of the construction barrels and then the workers, inflicting fatal injuries.

The victims were identified as 20-year-old New London, Iowa man Pearson Franklin and 35-year-old Burnside, Illinois man Andrew Whitcomb.

The driver, 21-year-old Emily Johnson of Gladstone, Illinois, was given a citation for violations of Scott's Law — improper passing of a stationary emergency vehicle, improper use of an electronic communication device and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash. She suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Illinois State Police are stressing the importance of following Scott's Law, which requires drivers to move over and slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle or any vehicle with hazard or emergency lights on.

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