East Bay family shattered by death of Caltrans worker

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) -- An Oakland family is grieving Monday night after a husband and father was run down and killed over the weekend while working his job repaving roads for Caltrans.

Miguel Rodriguez De La Cruz's family says he was proud of the work he did, but he was concerned about the dangers of his job.

Now, their worst fears were realized after he was killed along I-580 early Saturday morning.

"I can't believe it. My brother-in-law called me and say that my husband had an accident," said Gabriela Martinez Rodriguez De La Cruz.

Gabriela says she wanted to go to the hospital to see her husband only to learn that he died on the job.

She tells KTVU for the past ten years, De La Cruz had worked on many Caltrans road paving projects and that he'd had several close calls with drivers nearly hitting him.

"He was afraid," says Gabriela, "I was worried."

On Saturday, just after midnight, a driver crashed into De La Cruz as he was working on Interstate 580 West in Oakland by the Lakeshore exit. Caltrans had closed off the two left lanes for repaving.

California Highway Patrol says the 21-year-old driver had a blood alcohol level of .15, nearly double the legal limit. And he doesn't have a driver's license.

"All the people who drink and drive to stop. Please stop," said Gabriela.

De La Cruz was the main breadwinner for his family. He enjoyed grilling carne asada for get togethers and watching his beloved Raiders.

His 10-year-old son Miguel Junior was waiting for him to come home from work Saturday morning.

"My son asked me, 'Mommy, where's my dad?' I didn't have the right words to talk to him," said Gabriela.

She says nothing will bring her husband back. But she hopes the drunk driver will serve a long sentence behind bars so he doesn't hurt or kill anyone else.

"They broke my heart. They broke my family. They leave my son alone with no father," said Gabriela.

De La Cruz's family says he loved his work despite the danger. He was proud that he worked on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge.

He would have turned 34 years old September 28th.

De La Cruz's cousin has set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money to the support the family. Interested parties can make a donation here.