New York Construction Report staff writer
Flags on all New York State government buildings will be flown at half-staff today and tomorrow in honor of Robert Bornt, a longtime Department of Transportation Highway Maintenance Supervisor who died after being struck by a vehicle while working on a state highway work zone last week.
Bornt, 54, was hit on Thursday, May 29, while performing maintenance duties on Route 7 in Pittstown, Rensselaer County. He was airlifted to Albany Medical Center, where he died the following day, Friday, May 30. The driver involved in the crash remained at the scene. The incident is under investigation and no arrests have been made.
Bornt had worked with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) for 22 years and also served as fire chief of the Hoosick Falls Fire Department. He was remembered by colleagues and public officials as a selfless public servant committed to keeping New Yorkers safe.
“The entire NYSDOT family is grieving over the death of Highway Maintenance Supervisor Robert Bornt, who spent his entire life in the service of others,” said NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “My thanks to Governor Hochul for honoring Robert’s life and legacy and his family, in such a touching and meaningful way.”
Hochul urged New Yorkers to slow down, remain alert, and obey New York’s Move Over Law, especially in highway work zones.
“Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility, and this fatal crash underscores the importance of slowing down and paying attention in highway work zones—not only for the safety of the traveling public, but for the workers who are out there every day keeping us safe,” the Governor said in a statement.
According to state data, there have been 322 vehicle intrusions into NYSDOT work zones so far in 2024. These incidents have caused two driver deaths and 138 additional injuries to highway workers and other motorists. Since 1939, 59 NYSDOT employees have died in the line of duty.
Most crashes in work zones are attributed to distracted driving, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, or failure to heed traffic warning signs.
NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez also released a statement about his death.
