An employee of the city of Benicia was killed Wednesday morning when his vehicle overturned.

Michael Ferrara, a 59-year-old maintenance employee with the Public Works Department for 13 years, was driving an asphalt concrete truck used to fix streets after water leak repairs. The vehicle crashed and rolled over at the corner of Lake Herman and Reservoir roads, prior to 10:39 a.m. when the Benicia Police and Fire departments responded to reports of the accident. Emergency personnel were on the scene to administer life-saving treatments until a ground ambulance came by to pick him up and take him to a local hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Ferrara was the only driver in the truck, and no other vehicles were involved in the accident, city officials said. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.

“The city is saddened by this tragic event,” City Manager Lorie Tinfow said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and we are offering special support to employees here at the city as they respond to this loss.”

Prior to coming to Benicia, Ferrara worked in Vallejo’s Public Works Department before being hired to work in Benicia’s Parks & Community Service Department where he was employed for two years. In March 2007, he moved over to Benicia’s Public Works Department where he provided maintenance for numerous streets and storm drains, and worked with water distribution and wastewater collection maintenance crews.

Jim Lydon, fire chief and acting assistant city manager, remembered Ferrara as a hard-working and committed employee, no matter the time of day.

“Mike was a dedicated employee, who repaired water leaks in the after hours, nighttime, holidays (and) set up traffic control for special events on First Street,” he said.

Lydon also remembered how back in the January rainstorms, Ferrara drove a dump truck to rescue a driver who had been trapped in their vehicle by floodwaters.

From May 21 to 27, the city will be honoring the work provided by Public Works staff like Ferrara through National Public Works Week.

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