Longview, TX — April 17 on Interstate 30 in Bowie County: Traffic slows to merge into one lane as drivers near a Texas Department of Transportation work zone.

A woman driving an SUV fails to react quickly enough to the slowed traffic, and her vehicle slams into the back of an 18-wheeler. She is critically injured. Her three-year-old son is killed.

April 19 on U.S. 79 in Panola County: Traffic is stopped by a flagger as a Ruston, La., woman was driving home from Navasota with her grandson. She fails to notice traffic had stopped and runs into the back of a box truck. The woman and her grandson are killed.

“We feel both tragic accidents could have been avoided if the drivers had been paying closer attention,” said TxDOT spokesman Marcus Sandifer.

“We just want everyone to slow down and focus on traveling safely through the work zones.”

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