Sioux Valley Energy
General Manager/
Chief Executive Officer
On Thursday, April 24th 2025, four utility workers were killed and two severely injured on the roadside doing powerline work for Carolina Power and Signalization in North Carolina. A dump truck driver ran a stop sign and hit six people, continuing on to also hit an occupied bucket truck, eventually crashing into a ditch. There are no words to express the sadness I felt reading about this horrible incident.
While we don’t know the details of what led to the crash, it serves as a stark reminder that those who work on the roadside are often in danger. Sioux Valley Energy employees routinely work roadside and are witnesses to drivers who don’t even notice they are there despite flashing lights, safety cones, flaggers, signage, etc.
Take the Time. Every Time! Slow down near roadside work zones. Give yourself time to get where you are going and expect and plan for delays during construction months.
If you are able, move over and give our employees room to do their work. Both South Dakota and Minnesota have implemented “move over” laws. Make sure you know the rules of the road when it comes to roadside work zones: Updated Move Over Law in South Dakota and Ted Foss move over law | Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Need to make a call or send a text? It can wait – that text is not worth someone’s life.
There is nothing more important to us than safety. It isn’t a program, it isn’t a campaign, it isn’t even a strategy. It’s a culture – a culture that is ingrained in each of our employees. We work to live that culture every day and share it with YOU, our members. At the end of the day, our safety culture is centered around caring for others.
Please join our culture of care and be vigilant as you pass through roadside work zones. Sioux Valley Energy employee lives are on the line.
