Page 6 - Work Force April 2026

After tragedy and
survival, CSEA
members call for
greater roadside safety
COMMACK — CSEA has thousands
of members working in positions
that require them to work in
dangerous outdoor environments,
leaving them vulnerable to reckless
drivers.
CSEA Department of
Transportation (Babylon) Local
Vice President Randy Acum and
CSEA Nassau County Local crossing
guard John Miro were both struck by
impared drivers, sending them to the
hospital with serious injuries. Sadly,
Miro later succumbed to his wounds.
Miro was performing his duties
when an impaired driver sped
through a road crossing, striking him
with a pickup truck. Miro, who was
70, held on for a week before passing
away.
“Nassau County
crossing guards
work for the police
department, so we’re
setting up meetings
with them to discuss
what we can do to
improve safety for
the crossing guards,”
said CSEA Nassau
Local President Kris Kalender.
The Nassau County Local has
been working with Project Thank
a Cop and a local diner to provide
donated meals to the Miro family
during their time of grief. To thank
the doctors and nurses where Miro
received care, the Miro family asked
that at least one of their meals be
delivered to the hospital.
For his funeral, Miro received
many of the same ceremonial
observances as a first responder,
although the family’s modesty
prevented them from accepting all
the traditional formalities.
Long road to recovery
When Acum received a call from
local police asking for the DOT’s help
closing the road and detouring traffic
away from the site of a drunk driving
crash, he quickly assembled a crew.
While Acum was at the back of the
DOT truck checking to see that the
blinking arrow and the “Move Over”
sign were on, he was hit by another
drunk driver.
Acum recalled that his head
hit the windshield, and he was
Kalender
Randy Acum
receives a
hospital visit
from CSEA
Department of
Transportation
(Babylon) Local
President Rich
Allen.
6 The Work Force CSEA Department of Transportation (Babylon) Local Vice President Randy
Acum visits with fellow DOT workers and CSEA members as he is released
from the hospital almost two weeks after being hit by a drunk driver
while on the job.
thrown forward about 30 to 40 feet,
maybe more. Luckily, two officers
conducting an investigation of the
previous accident spotted Acum,
pulled him to the road shoulder and
performed CPR.
Soon after, an
ambulance rushed
Acum to the hospital,
where he was whisked
into surgery.
“Had everyone not
acted so quickly, I
don’t know if I would
have made it,” said
Acum.
The hours that
followed were
traumatic for Acum,
his family, and his
colleagues. Everyone
breathed a sigh of
relief when they were
told that he was alive
and made it through
surgery successfully.
Acum was released
from the hospital almost two weeks
later. He was surprised to find his
fellow DOT local members lining the
hospital exit, clapping and cheering
as a nurse, who is also a CSEA
member, escorted him to his car. As
a sign of respect, Acum received a
police escort home.
“People aren’t
following the rules
of the road. They’re
speeding or driving
on the shoulder or
through our work
zones. People
need to take
accountability
for what they do
behind the wheel.
You are responsible
for your own safety
and the safety of
others around you.”
“This is the beginning of what
will be months and months of OT
[occupational therapy] and PT
[physical therapy],” said Acum. “I’ll
need to strengthen my body to walk
and use my right arm again. There
could be some other
issues going forward,
but we’ll see what
happens.”
CSEA has
consistently been
in contact with the
governor’s office to
improve safety for
road workers, but true
safety is contingent
on the cooperation
of the public. CSEA’s
Occupational Safety
and Health Department
investigated both
incidents.
“People aren’t
following the rules of
the road,” said Acum.
“They’re speeding or
driving on the shoulder or through
our work zones. People need to
take accountability for what they
do behind the wheel. You are
responsible for your own safety and
the safety of others around you.”
— Wendi Bowie
April 2026