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Harrisburg - Highlighting the dangers faced by road crews, PennDOT and other agencies today reminded motorists to slow down and drive carefully in work zones. Pennsylvania's Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, marking the unofficial start of the road construction season, runs through April 6. PennDOT's traveling Worker Memorial is on display in the lobby of the Keystone Building in Harrisburg this week. The memorial includes 83 posts topped by hard hats and draped in safety vests. Each post represents a PennDOT employee who died in the line of duty since 1970. Jack Griffin of Bradford died in a work zone on Olean Road in October of 2010 when a man under the influence of prescription and non-prescription drugs hit him. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The man who was under the influence of drugs when he hit and killed a PennDOT worker in October has been sentenced to 4 to 10 years in prison, according to McKean County District Attorney Ray Learn. 42-year-old Donald Blocher of Salamanca, New York, was charged in the death of Jack Griffin. The accident happened in a work zone on Olean Road in Foster Township. PennDOT worker James Burrows was also severely injured in the crash. Blocher was on his way home from an appointment at BRMC at the time of the crash and was under the influence of eight drugs, including valium, muscle relaxants and marijuana.

The man accused of driving under the influence of prescription drugs when his vehicle hit and killed a PennDOT worker will remain jailed on half a million dollars bail. 42-year-old Donald Blocher of Salamanca is charged with homicide by vehicle in connection to the death of 51-year-old Jack Griffin in October in Foster Township. A bail hearing was held today in front of District Judge Rich Luther, who decided Blocher’s bail will remain at $500,000 PennDOT worker James Burrows of Eldred was severely injured when Blocher’s vehicle hit him.

The man driving the vehicle that hit and killed a PennDOT worker on Olean Road in October has been charged with homicide by vehicle. 42-year-old Donald Blocher of Salamanca was arraigned on a number of charges this morning by District Judge Rich Luther and was sent to McKean County Jail on $500,000 bail. Police say Blocher failed to see PennDOT workers Jack Griffin of Bradford and James Burrows of Eldred in an active work zone and hit Griffin, propelling him into a ditch. Blocher then hit Burrows, severely injuring him. Blocher is also charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI and a violation of the drug act.