Since 1972, 11 PennDOT District 4 employees who went to work in the morning planning to return home to their families at the end of their shifts never made it. They were killed while doing their jobs.
On Tuesday, District 4 leaders and members of the community gathered to honor those lost employees and 82 other Pennsylvania Department of Transportation workers across the state who also lost their life while repairing and maintaining state roadways.
Memorials are set up to remember workers that were killed on the job outside of PennDOT’s Engineering District 4 headquarters in Dunmore Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A Scranton fireman rings the bell after each name is called during a memorial service outside of PennDOT’s Engineering District 4 headquarters in Dunmore Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
District Executive Jonathan Eboli speaks during a memorial service outside of PennDOT’s Engineering District 4 headquarters in Dunmore Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Show Caption
1 of 3
Memorials are set up to remember workers that were killed on the job outside of PennDOT’s Engineering District 4 headquarters in Dunmore Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The annual event is held ahead of the PennDOT’s construction season, which is projected to be busy.
“The 11 names on this stone, our fellow coworkers, made the ultimate sacrifice. And we will never forget them,” PennDOT Engineering District 4 Executive Jonathan A. Eboli said.
Each lost worker was represented at the event by a hard hat and vest, in addition to a keystone-shaped memorial etched with the names of the fallen.
“We continue to talk about work zone safety and distracted driving because we never want to add another hard hat and vest to this memorial,” Eboli said.
Eric Schubert, of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union, said the event was a grim reminder.
He pointed out PennDOT employees and other public sector workers are not covered by federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and so lack federal workplace safety protections.
‘Slow down, put your devices down, pay attention’
“Slow down, put your devices down, buckle up and pay attention,” Eboli said. “Work zones are temporary. Actions taken behind the wheel can be forever.”
State Sen. Marty Flynn pointed out work zones can be just feet away from drivers.
“We’re counting on drivers to slow down and pay attention,” he said.
Lonell Tomaine, assistant district executive of the maintenance division for PennDOT’s District 4, said workers will be fixing bridges, paving roads and maintaining infrastructure across the state to make roads safer for drivers.
She stressed the importance of drivers putting their phone down and keeping their heads up, paying attention.
“Think about the families behind the hard hats, commit to driving with care and staying alert,” she said.
The District 4 keystone-shaped memorial on display at PennDOT district headquarters is carved with the words, “Work Zone Safety Saves Lives,” and “Dedicated To District 4-0 Fallen Workers,” and contains the names of 11 workers who lost their lives in the district from 1975 through 2001. Those include:
• Joseph Caviston Sr., Lackawanna County, April 18, 1975.
• Donald L. Martin, Pike County, June 23, 1977.
• Mark Harer, Wayne County, Oct. 17, 1977.
• Elmer Swetland, Susquehanna County, Jan. 8, 1979.
• Patrick F. DiGiovine, Lackawanna County, Jan. 31, 1980.
• Duane C. Hall, Susquehanna County, April 5, 1980.
• Ralph M. Cornell, Luzerne County, Dec. 20, 1987.
• Vincent Matylewicz, Lackawanna County, Sept. 29, 1997.
• Jeff L. Teske, District 4, Oct. 20, 1997.
• Richard Dawson, Luzerne County, Dec. 21, 1999.
• Richard Bradley, Luzerne County, May 14, 2001.
“PennDOT is proud to stand with our partners in safety today to remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice while working for PennDOT,” Eboli said. “Every hard hat and vest you see here today symbolizes our efforts to memorialize our coworkers who died on the job – working for the 13 million Pennsylvanians that count on us every day.”
Staff writer James Lockwood contributed to this report.