In the early morning hours of Thursday, November 13, a grim scene unfolded at the west-bound on-ramp of Loop 101 (Arizona) at 35th Avenue in Glendale, AZ. At around 5:15 a.m., 64-year-old Vicente Catellanos Rodriguez, a resident of Tolleson, was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the on-ramp to reach a construction site on the freeway’s north shoulder.
Rodriguez was part of a construction crew working on improvements along the Loop 101 corridor. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), he was employed by a local construction firm that had been assigned to a project on the freeway shoulder. Shortly after the collision, first responders transported him to a hospital in critical condition. Tragically, he later succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and is not facing any charges or citations, according to DPS. Investigators are still working to piece together exactly how the collision occurred, including the circumstances that led Rodriguez to cross the on-ramp in that moment. The ramp was temporarily closed to allow investigators access to the scene and reopened after approximately 7:30 a.m.
What stands out in this incident is the early hour, the construction setting, and the vulnerability of a worker navigating a live freeway ramp. The fact that the vehicle driver is not being charged raises poignant questions about highway safety during construction and how pedestrians—including workers—can be protected in these high-risk zones.
Legacy-wise, Rodriguez leaves behind a community in Tolleson and a workforce shaken by the sudden loss of one of their own. For those on the job at sunrise, the incident serves as a harsh reminder of how fast routine conditions can become fatal. The exact construction firm has not been publicly named, nor have details of the project been widely disclosed, but the tragedy underscores the stakes of freeway work in active traffic settings.
Officials have not yet released a detailed narrative of how the crash unfolded—whether lighting, signage, vehicle speed, or pedestrian visibility played a role. For now, the focus remains on honoring Rodriguez’s memory and perhaps galvanizing stronger safety protocols for roadside workers.
As the investigation continues, the DPS spokesperson reiterated that motorists and work-zone pedestrians alike must exercise extra caution in these early-morning hours, particularly in fast-moving freeway environments. For Rodriguez’s family and crew, the loss is immediate and profound. His passing highlights that behind every traffic repair and construction cone, there’s a person: someone crossing a ramp at dawn, trying to do their job.
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