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Interstate Hit-And-Run Victim's Plea: Slow Down Save Email Print
Road worker recovering from broken pelvis
Posted: 11:48 PM Aug 28, 2008
Last Updated: 1:06 AM Aug 29, 2008
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

A | A | A

A road construction worker who survived a hit-and-run accident on Interstate 80 Tuesday night spoke Thursday from the Nebraska Medical Center where he's recovering from his injuries.

Jonathan Saitta was struck by a speeding driver in a construction zone near 32nd Street. The driver kept on going. Amazingly, a broken pelvis seems to be the worst of it for Saitta.

"This is the sorest day. I was happy I got up and walked around with the little walker. It's been pretty rough, pretty lucky though."

Road workers are trained to always keep their eyes on the road. Saitta had just three cones left to set out Tuesday night when he saw the silver Cadillac.

"I seen him, he was hauling, he was going fast. I thought that he was going to rear-end the other car, but at the last minute he tried to miss it and that's when he went at me."

The crash closed the westbound lanes of the interstate. The hit-and-run driver hasn't been found. "I wish the person that hit me would turn themselves in. Sooner or later it will catch up with you, their conscience or whatnot."

His aunt, who is also a boss at the River City Barricade Company, can't believe he's here talking. "When you stop to think about a human being hit by a car at 55-60 mph, it's not good, even when you want to think the best, you know, it's gotta be pretty bad," says Cynthia Goff.

Saitta wants his story to be a lesson for everyone to slow down when people are working on the road. And a big thank you to the two women who helped him that night, a nurse who stopped and kept him calm, and Denise. “She's the one that stopped so no one else would run me over."

Omaha Police found the Cadillac abandoned in a neighborhood not far from the 42nd Street exit, but haven't found the driver. The barricade company is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver.

For a guy thrown 20 feet into the air on the interstate, he's fortunate to be talking about it.

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Posted by: Steve on Aug 29, 2008 at 09:40 AM
While I feel sorry for the injured worker maybe this is the time to get on the soapbox. All drivers should slow down for construction BUT in this part of the country the signs go up "fines doubled" and stay up whether there is construction or not. The west Dodge overpass was a "construction zone: from last October until June this year waiting for better weather for some last minute lanscaping changes. In Texas the signs say "slow down fines doubled WHEN workers are present. In Illinois and Indiana they have electric signs alerting drivers WHEN workers are present. If we could update the pitiful system we have here it would be safer for the workers and saner for the drivers. I feel we should let our state legislators know about this and correct the silly way it is being done now!

Posted by: tj on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:43 AM
The driver had to of been drunk and ran so not to get caught, but once the driver is caught, the punishment will be double...I hope you have a speedy recovery...good job to the ladies who stopped to help!!!

Posted by: Jen on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Why are they not releasing the name of who owned that car that hit this guy? They have not said it was a stolen car so it should be pretty easy to find out from the owner who was driving it at the time. And if the owner is missing-release their name. I just don't understand why they are not releasing a name yet.

Posted by: l on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:33 AM
May God protect you and help you heal! May this also serve as a lesson for the inconsiderate fools out there. It will catch up with him.

Posted by: A. on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I hope he has a speedy recovery and the driver really needs to turn himself in it will catch up to him.

Posted by: Hmmm on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:02 AM
it is not as if someone isn't missing a car that should have been licensed & registered somewhere...he was probably drunk & with out insurance. I hope Mr. Saitta heals quickly. & I do believe that Karma & not this person's conscience will get him. ANyone who would hit another person with a car & drive off obviously has very little conscience & is a slime ball...

Posted by: Chris on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Mr Saitta you are a very strong dude, hope you recover 100% and get on with your life like before. Great to hear of the 2 ladies who helped out. To the coward who did this you need 2 turn yourself in. Bad karma is not good.

Posted by: Keith on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Slow down? yea, that'll be the day.

Posted by: Sam on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:07 AM
Jonathan, you have really opened my eyes to how important it is to obey the speed limits in these construction zones. I will always remember to watch my speed and respect the hard and dangerous job that you do. I wish you a full and speedy recovery!

Posted by: Tom on Aug 29, 2008 at 06:52 AM
Godspeed on your recovery. I hope the OPD can find this guy through VIN Numbers & Plates Numbers. Thank you to the Nurse that stopped and kept him safe till the ambulance medics arrived.

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