NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio – There’s a new nonprofit organization in North Ridgeville that aims to make motorists a bit more mindful when it comes to construction workers.

Matthew Kokal is the executive director of Behind The Barrel, and he’s making it his mission to remind drivers to pay more attention when coming upon construction sites.

According to data from the Ohio Department of Transportation, there were nearly 5,000 work zone crashes in Ohio in 2022, including 21 fatal crashes that claimed 23 lives. Kokal, himself a construction worker and proud member of Union Local 860, said not a day goes by when he doesn’t witnesses or isn’t part of a close call from drivers simply not paying attention or ignoring road rules.

“Every day that we’re going to work, we’re putting our lives on the li

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