Hit and Run Kills Construction Worker Near Bellmead - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- One construction worker was killed this morning after he was struck by a semi heading north on I-35 at exit 342 near Bellmead.

The vehicle is believed to have been carrying a white box trailer when it hit Manuel Revis, of Houston, and continued driving.

"I knew he had a family in Houston and he had four kids. He was a hardworking guy," said coworker Joe Oupio about Revis.

Revis was working for Williams Brothers Construction Company on the I-35 expansion project and was putting up a sign to bring traffic in the area down to one lane. He was wearing a reflective vest and a helmet but was side swiped by the semi.

Revis was taken to Hillcrest Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His body was sent to Dallas for an autopsy.

The driver of the semi never stopped his vehicle. Several agencies searched for the semi but were unable to locate it on the highway.

"One is too many, it's a terrible, terrible situation," said TxDOT spokesperson Ken Roberts about the death.

In Texas, around 100 people die in work zone crashes every year. Workers wear hard hats, bright colors and use signs and barriers to protect themselves.

And while workers are constantly briefed on safety, drivers are not. Even though 80 percent of all work zone fatalities are motorists.

"It's incumbent upon our traveling public to be vigilant, to pay attention, to not be distracted to slow down and observe what's taking place in our work zones so we can all arrive alive," Roberts said.    

Because right now, construction workers span more than 60 miles of highway in our area. And tonight, one of them won't return home.

"All he wanted was wealth for his family and all that...I feel sorry for them for what happened," Oupio said.

Other workers present at the scene say the driver of an early to mid 90s Ford dually pick up truck tried to get the driver of the semi to stop but was unsuccessful. The driver of that pick up did not stop either and police have not been able to locate that vehicle either.

Anyone with information is asked to call 254-759-7131.