Family of killed construction worker speaks out

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The family of a Fort Wayne construction worker run over and killed by a semi truck this week, spoke out for the first time about the accident, Thursday.

Ryan Zimmerman, 25, worked for PRIMCO , a contractor for Indiana Department of Transportation or INDOT. He and his co-workers were repairing concrete on U.S 27 at the intersection of Winchester Street in Decatur. He was in a dug up piece of the road when a semi made made a turn and its trailer ran over him. Zimmerman died at the hospital.

A mangled barrel and a tribute written in freshly laid concrete that reads "ZIMM RIP" are the only reminders of what happened.

"My dad called and said 'He's gone' and I dropped the phone and lost it. Lost my mind," said Drew Light, Zimmerman's uncle and best friend.

Light and other family members and friends gathered at Zimmerman's family home to look at pictures and remember him.

"He was a great guy. He was a huge family guy," said J.R. Booker, Zimmerman's best friend since 8th grade. "He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it."

Light said Zimmerman knew of the dangers of a road construction job, but never thought he would get hurt. He said Zimmerman was thinking about leaving the business; he had a job interview coming up.

INDOT sent out a strong warning, Thursday, asking drivers to be extra careful when in a construction zone.

"It does happen. It's tragic. It's unfortunate," said INDOT spokeswoman Stacie DelaCuesta. "It just illustrates the point that people do need to slow down and take the proper precautions as their traveling through work zones."

Zimmerman had also just moved into a new house and was two weeks away from getting married to his fiance Abby Miller. His bachelor party was scheduled for this Saturday.

Light and Booker told NewsChannel they and Zimmerman's friends will still get together on that day to pay tribute to their friend and remember the good times.

"We still try to say the jokes that he would say or try to come up with something most likely he would've said for us," said Booker. "It's tough."

As of Thursday evening, the family had not made funeral arrangements yet.