Update: Highway Worker Has 'Life-Threatening' Injuries Following Crash

A highway construction worker has suffered "life-threatening" injuries after being struck by a reportedly drunk driver, police said.

The crash happened before 3:30 a.m. on Highway 17 near George Browder Boulevard when Daniel D. Hamrick plowed through the construction zone and struck the highway worker.

"Hamrick entered the construction area where workers were paving Lane No. 2 and struck one of the workers forcing him into the asphalt spreading machinery," said Mount Pleasant police Capt. Stan Gragg.

Hamrick was arrested at the scene, Gragg said. He's charged with felony DUI.

The unidentified highway worker was transported to MUSC with life-threatening injuries, Gragg said.

Speed along Highway 17, which has three simultaneous traffic projects in progress currently, has been a continual issue. In mid October, the town lowered speed along much of the highway to 35 mph to reduce the risk for highway workers.

Editors note: This story has been modified from its original version to note that no field sobriety tests were performed. Hamrick, , was given a blood-alcohol test at a hospital several hours after the crash.