Wake County, North Carolina – Tragedy struck early Friday morning when Kevarus N. Bowens, a 45-year-old road maintenance worker from Lumberton, was fatally struck by two vehicles on Interstate 40 near Garner. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. while Bowens was working in a construction zone near mile marker 307, close to the U.S. Highway 70 interchange.
Bowens was in the process of removing a lane closure sign and was crossing the eastbound lanes to return to his work vehicle when he was first hit by a car driven by 21-year-old Rontavion Hunter of Garner. The impact threw Bowens into the road, where he was struck a second time by another vehicle driven by Esmeralda Saenz, also 21, from Smithfield. Both drivers remained at the scene, and authorities reported no charges have been filed, as neither speed nor impairment were suspected factors in the crash.
Despite wearing a reflective vest and having his work vehicle’s warning lights on, Bowens succumbed to his injuries on the scene. He was employed by Stay Alert Safety Services and was working as a subcontractor for S.T. Wooten, a private construction company that often collaborates with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
NCDOT expressed their sorrow over the loss, stating, “NCDOT is deeply saddened by the loss of a transportation contract worker who was struck and killed while working on Interstate 40 East. Our condolences are with the family of the worker, who was employed by Stay Alert Safety Services, subcontracting for S.T. Wooten.”
Kevarus N. Bowens’ death marks the second fatality of an S.T. Wooten employee on I-40 in just over a year, following the death of C.J. Bryant in May 2023.
The incident remains under investigation by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Reflecting on the tragic accident, many expressed their condolences and memories on social media. One commenter, posting on the USMWF United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities page, said, “Kevarus was such a dedicated worker. My heart goes out to his family and colleagues.” Another comment read, “These accidents are heartbreaking. Safety in work zones is so crucial, and every loss is felt deeply by the community.”