Politics & Government

Investigation Finds City Worker Followed Safety Rules Before Fatal Accident

The city requested the study of the situation surrounding the passing of maintenance worker David Vogel.

An independent report released Thursday found that and another city worker were following proper safety procedures when a van hit Vogel on Farrell Avenue in March, ending his life.

Vogel and another city worker, Tom Gotterba, were inspecting the orientation of underground utility lines on March 14, requiring that Vogel briefly enter the roadway and look under a manhole cover.

The two men did not expect that they would need to enter the roadway to conduct the “USA locate,” according to the report. Information provided before the inspection showed that a related manhole was located mid-block, but it was, in fact, in the intersection.

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Due to the brief and unexpected nature of the mid-road inspection, the two men did not use “temporary traffic-control devices.” Instead, Gotterba served as a spotter while Vogel entered the street.

The method is common practice during brief roadwork. The report reads:

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For short duration work, and (as here) work that does not involve road construction, road repair or entry into traffic, TTCs are not always utilized and other short-term protective measures may be utilized.

The two men used the “CAR-CAR” call-and-response technique, in which one employee says “CAR-CAR” when a vehicle is approaching, and the other says “CAR-CAR” to indicate "that he heard the warning and would take appropriate measures to avoid the approaching car."

After a first vehicle passed, Gotterba called “CAR” to indicate a second vehicle at a nearby intersection. Vogel reportedly looked at the van but did not respond. However, Gotterba said in the report that he believed Vogel saw it.

Vogel opened the manhole and indicated the direction of the utility lines they were inspecting. He was reportedly looking at Gotterba across the street and “adjusting his location with hand gestures” before Gotterba bent over to make a paint mark on the street.

Neither man saw the approach of the van, nor the impact, according to the report.

Both Gotterba and Vogel were long-time city employees—Vogel for 14 years, Gotterba for 22. Each attended a “flagger and traffic safety” training session as recently as November, part of continuing safety training taken within the maintenance division.

Five individuals were interviewed for the investigation, including Gotterba, coworkers and supervisors in the city’s Maintenance Division. Du-All Safety conducted the investigation at the city’s request.


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