Two Women Fatally Struck by Vehicles

Two women were struck by vehicles and killed in the District on Friday night and Saturday morning, authorities said. One was apparently at work on a paving project and the other, a caregiver, was crossing a street, authorities said.

In the first incident, a construction worker was struck about 11:10 p.m. on southbound Interstate 395 near Maine Avenue SW, D.C. police said. John B. Townsend III, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic said he understood the woman was acting as a flagger, directing traffic, when she was struck by a piece of heavy equipment known as a road sweeper.

Townsend said the flagger is typically the most vulnerable worker at road construction sites.

A spokeswoman for the D.C. Department of Transportation said a private contractor was involved in repaving the Southeast-Southwest Freeway. The spokeswoman, who expressed condolences to the victim's relatives, said she understood that the vehicle involved belonged to the contractor and was used in the project.

Attempts to reach the contractor were unsuccessful. Police released little information, but a police spokesman said he understood that occupational safety authorities had taken over the investigation.

In the other incident, the victim was a 63-year-old woman who apparently worked as a caregiver or housekeeper for a resident of the Watergate West apartments.

Police identified her as Ana M. Canales of the 2700 block of Virginia Avenue NW.

Police said she was in or near the east crosswalk when she was struck by a vehicle that was attempting to turn right onto W Street from the northbound lanes of 15th Street NW.

Police said the incident was under investigation.

Relatives of the woman could not be located immediately.

Staff writer John Wagner contributed to this report.