After two fatal incidents last week in Finger Lakes, officials are reminding drivers to exercise caution in work zones

Expressway maintenance worker Mark Vara, 58, remains under guard following a tragic accident on Interstate 90 near Exit 47 last Thursday afternoon. Vara and his colleague, 62-year-old Vincent Giammarva, were struck by a truck while working in a designated work area. Giammarva was pronounced dead at the scene. Another accident that occurred in the town of Aurelius in a different work area, according to state police, also resulted in one fatality.

The driver in the Thruway crash, a 64-year-old from the Syracuse area, has been cooperating with the ongoing State Police investigation. While drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as factors, the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. Troopers said the accident reconstruction unit’s analysis could take months.

This incident highlights the general concern about road safety in work zones, highlighted by recent government efforts to improve conditions. Last year, nearly 3,000 tickets were issued for speeding and workplace distraction in work zones, accompanied by legislative measures such as automated speeding tickets and the expanded Move Over Law. Trooper Crane urged drivers to remain vigilant, especially in work zones, to prevent future tragedies.

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