(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A man working for the Iowa Department of Transportation was struck and killed in a Pottawattamie County construction zone this (Thursday) morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports 36-year-old Matthew Dickerson, of Neola, died in the crash that happened northeast of Council Bluffs at around 9:15-a.m. on Interstate 80 eastbound.

The Patrol says a 2024 International tractor-trailer registered to UPS and driven by 41-year-old Clifford Miller, of Millerstown, PA, was traveling on I-80 eastbound in a line of traffic, as two lanes merged into one. Two DOT maintenance crash attenuator (with illuminated arrow sign) vehicles notified traffic of the left lane closure.

Matthew Dickerson was at the rear of one of the DOT vehicles conducting patch work in the left closed lane, when the semi changed lanes between the DOT crash attenuator and a DOT 2021 Dodge RAM 3500 pickup, in order to pass other traffic. The semi struck Dickerson and the pickup truck. The driver of the pickup, 45-year-old Jordan Hargens, of Council Bluffs, was injured in the accident. He was transported by private vehicle to a hospital.

Jim Mayer, Senior Director of UPS Media Relations, told KETV in a statement, “”We’re aware of an accident on I-80 this morning involving one of our vehicles. We are saddened to learn of the death of a highway worker and our thoughts are with his family. We are cooperating with authorities as they investigate and are referring any additional questions to them.”