Woodinville driver charged in death of road worker

Prosecutors today filed vehicular homicide charges against a 31-year-old Woodinville man in connection with an accident Friday on Interstate 405 in Kirkland that left a construction worker dead.

Police and prosecutors allege Kyle Williams had been drinking when he drove around construction barriers set up as protection for the road construction site, killing engineer Kollin Nielson and injuring another worker.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) said there have been approximately 47 work-zone deaths on state roadways between 2000 and 2006 and 4,454 work-zone injuries in the same period.

Road-construction-zone deaths led the DOT to launch a program called "Give 'em a Brake" to curtail construction accidents.

Williams, who has a history of traffic offenses, including citations for speeding and failing to obey a traffic signal, is scheduled to be arraigned July 2 and could face more than three years in prison if convicted as charged.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com