COLLINSVILLE, TX - Road crews work in dangerous conditions every day to make sure our roads are safe and passable. But Monday morning two men were hit by a vehicle while they were repairing a guardrail, and the incident has TXDot and DPS troopers talking about safety when it comes to driving in construction zones.

59-year-old Michael Whisenant was driving on FM 902 just a mile outside of Collinsville around 10:00 a.m. Monday.

"The driver apparently blacked out or lost control, and struck a guardrail. And after he struck the guard rail he hit a TXDot employee and contractor who were working on the guard rail,” said DPS Trooper Mark Tackett.

Tackett said 68-year-old William "Charlie" Duty, a TXDot crewman, and 50-year-old Johnny Vick, a contractor, were repairing a guardrail on the side of the road, when Whisenant drove past the flaggers.

"These men and women are out there in harm’s way making sure the roads are in passable condition, so it's a very dangerous situation to be in. But we do have the measures out there to protect these workers,” said Noel Paramanantham, TXDot Area Engineer.

Flaggers, construction zone signs and reflective vests are a few of those caution indicators.

“The thing is to remember when you're going through these construction zones those guys are out there working to make the roads safer for you, so slow down give them some room and try to make their day possible,” said Tackett.

Tackett also said the elderly driver was on several prescription drugs, but investigators are waiting on a toxicology report to see exactly what caused the accident.

"If you're taking prescription medication you need to be made aware that that's going to affect your body and it can affect you judgment. And just because it's not alcohol or an illegal drug, you still need to be mindful of what you're doing whenever you're driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery,” said Tackett.

The two workers were flown by helicopter to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. They did suffer severe injuries, but are expected to recover.

"Definitely hits home, it's like family, we work with these men and women and it's very hard to hear that they have to go through something like this,” said Paramanantham.

The driver was taken by ambulance to Texoma Medical Center Monday morning. Tackett says no charges have been filed at this time. And both he and Tex-Dot want to remind drivers the caution signs only work if people pay attention to them and slow down.