Funeral arrangements are planned next week for a state highway worker who was fatally struck by a vehicle Monday morning, the area's third California Department of Transportation employee on-duty death since early May.
Richard Gonzalez, 52, will be memorialized at a service beginning at 6 p.m. on June 29 at the Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary at 3838 Bonita Rd. in Bonita. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Gonzalez was struck before 9 a.m. Monday while picking up debris on northbound Interstate 15 at the eastbound state Route 94 on-ramp.
He worked in Caltrans' Special Programs Crew and joined the company in 2008 as an Equipment Operator II. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and two sons, Ron, 22, and Erick, 12.
Before early May, no state highway worker in the region had been killed in the line of duty since 1994. Stephen Palmer Sr. died on May 4 in National City; Jaime Obeso passed June 7 near El Centro, Imperial County.
After Gonzalez' death, Caltrans ordered all its maintenance workers statewide to stand down from their duties for the rest of the day.
A memorial fund has been set up for each of the three workers' families. Those who wish to donate are instructed to send checks to CTF; 581 La Sierra Dr.; Sacramento, CA 95864.
Local
Donations can be distinguished by writing Gonzalez Memorial, Obeso Memorial or Palmer Memorial on the check's memo line.
