Randy Lehnus, 28, of Kankakee, was struck by a truck filled with hot asphalt. One witness said the truck was backing up to pour asphalt into a hole in the road.
The driver was about to hit a sawhorse set out to block traffic and the worker ran out to warn the driver. His foot got stuck under the truck tire and the truck kept rolling, pinning Lehnus under the tire.
Lehnus was pronounced dead a short time later.
"I saw the people running away, running away, and that is when I looked over and saw something like a body laying there," witness Oscar Pope said. "I looked closer and saw a person's body pinched between the wheels and the highway."
The Illinois Department of Transportation issued statement that said, " We're deeply saddened by the tragic accident this morning. Safety always is a top priority at the Illinois Department of Transportation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the worker's family at this time."
