Caltrans Worker Mahdi Khorram, 39, Died in Highway 4 Construction Site Accident Involving Asphalt Truck
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (September 22, 2025) – A Caltrans worker identified as Mahdi Khorram has tragically died in a Contra Costa County dump truck accident on Highway 4.
Contra Costa County officials are saying that the collision took place around 1:30 a.m. on September 18. Mahdi Khorram was hit by an asphalt truck in a construction zone along Highway 4.
The circumstances leading up to the accident remain unknown. Paramedics were called to the scene to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Mahdi Khorram died due to the severe nature of his injuries. He serves as a transportation engineer and construction inspector.
Flags were lowered to half-staff at the state capital in his honor. He was married and the father of a three-year-old child.
A full investigation into the Contra Costa County dump truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Contra Costa County Dump Truck Accidents
Workers are not permitted to pursue negligence claims directly against their employer in most situations. Instead, injured workers and surviving family members are able to pursue aid through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to help cover many of the losses and injuries associated with workplace accidents. An injured worker or their family may also be able to pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. There could be several sources of third-party negligence for any accident within a highway construction zone.
- Truck Driver: The driver of a truck could be liable for any accident that was the result of negligence. A truck driver may have failed to follow traffic regulations or construction zone laws. In particular, truck drivers must have visibility or use a spotter when they are navigating through highly congested construction zones.
- Truck Owner: The company that employed a truck driver involved in a collision would also be held at fault for a crash. In general, employers within the state of California can be liable for tortious actions of their employees operating within the course and scope of their job duties. It is also possible that a truck company failed to adequately train or supervise their workers.
- Truck Manufacturer: The company responsible for manufacturing a truck could also face some level of legal responsibility for a construction accident. This may be the case if a truck had design defects that stemmed from a lack of safety features. Among other things, most large trucks are required to have backup alarms to alert pedestrians of their presence.
- General Contractors: The general contractor that controlled a construction site or handled construction zone safety could also be held at fault. They are required to maintain construction sites in a reasonably safe condition and must take steps to prevent foreseeable sources of harm.
- Construction Consultants: It is relatively common for construction sites to outsource some work to consultants or subcontractors. Those entities could be liable for a collision if there was a design defect in the layout of a construction zone that contributed to a crash.
There have been many legal actions against general contractors and subcontractors when workers have been killed in California construction zone accidents. Consider, for example, Anderson v. L. C. Smith Constr. Co. Donald Anderson, a state highway engineer, was killed when a subcontractor’s asphalt truck backed over him as he was walking. His surviving family members brought a wrongful death claim against the truck owner, general contractor, and trucking subcontractor. They alleged that the accident was the result of violations of Cal/OSHA safety requirements.
Preventing Contra Costa County Construction Zone Accidents
Many workers are seriously injured or killed in work zone accidents each year. According to the National Safety Council, “The majority of deaths in work zones are drivers of motor vehicles in transport. Vehicles involved in fatal crashes include both those engaged in construction activities, as well as those traveling through a construction zone.” There are many steps that should be taken to prevent truck accidents in construction zones.
- Traffic Control: Construction companies should design haul routes within a construction site. This can go a long way towards separating vehicles from the paths that pedestrians take.
- Vehicle Safety: Trucks at construction sites should have functional backup alarms. There should also be blind spot monitoring or cameras to cover areas that truck drivers cannot see.
- Spotters: Truck drivers should make use of spotters when they do not have visual confirmation of what may be in front of, behind, or by the sides of their vehicle.
- Safety Equipment: Workers should be provided with high-visibility vests to make them easier to spot for those operating heavy machinery or trucks.
Strictly adhering to Cal/OSHA regulations is essential to preventing accidents in construction zones. Adequate training and communication between workers can prevent the vast majority of accidents that take place. Truck drivers should make their intentions clear through radio communication, traffic signals, and other measures. The family of any person who died in a construction accident may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through CCP § 377.60.
Investigating Contra Costa County Construction Zone Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mahdi Khorram. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to Cal/OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies can be averted. There are a number of questions that still need to be answered. What is the safety record of the company operating the asphalt truck? What precautionary measures were taken to prevent accidents at this worksite?
Do you need more information about a Contra Costa County dump truck accident? Our team of construction accident investigators is here for you. We understand all of the Cal/OSHA regulations related to heavy equipment and trucks at construction sites. In fact, we can investigate all of the circumstances that may have contributed to any accident completely free of cost. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that construction sites are safe for all workers. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
