Wilbraham, MA (July 15, 2026) – A 35-year-old Monson woman drove through an active roadwork zone on eastbound I-90 on Tuesday night and struck a MassDOT worker, then left the scene before being found stopped in the breakdown lane nearby. The crash was reported at approximately 10:22 p.m. on July 14.
Danielle Drouillard was operating a white SUV without headlights when she entered the work zone set up in the left lane in Wilbraham. The SUV struck a MassDOT worker who was standing outside a work vehicle. The worker was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover.
Drouillard was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of liquor as a second offense, leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Officers described her as having heavy, slurred speech and failing field sobriety tests. She later registered a blood alcohol content of 0.32 on a breathalyzer: four times the legal limit in Massachusetts. She pleaded not guilty in Palmer District Court, where bail was set at $10,000. Her next court date is July 30.
The accident remains under formal review. We wish the injured worker a full and speedy recovery.
What Protections Exist for Road Workers in Active Highway Work Zones?
Highway work zones are among the most dangerous environments for people doing roadside jobs. Workers are exposed to passing traffic at highway speeds with only cones, barriers, and warning signs between them and vehicles that may not slow down or notice the work zone in time. Massachusetts, like most states, has enhanced penalties for traffic violations committed in active work zones, recognizing the elevated risk workers face every time they step outside their vehicles near moving traffic.
Driving without headlights at night in a work zone removes one of the few warning systems that gives workers and drivers a chance to see each other before it is too late. A vehicle approaching without lights is nearly invisible to workers ahead until it is already within the work area. This is why law enforcement and transportation agencies treat headlight violations in work zones as serious safety failures rather than minor oversights.
A blood alcohol content of 0.32, four times the legal limit, represents a level of impairment that profoundly affects a driver’s ability to perceive hazards, react to changes in the road environment, and maintain lane control. At that level, a driver may not recognize warning signs, cones, or flashing lights as meaningful cues to slow down or change course. Repeat OUI offenders who cause injury in a work zone face compounding charges that reflect both the criminal history and the additional danger their choices created for workers on the road.
