NORWICH – A Chenango County Department of Public Works employee was struck by an SUV Tuesday as he directed traffic along County Road 32 in the Town of Norwich.

Francis French, 40, of Sherburne, was conscious when he was airlifted to Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City with head and other injuries, reported emergency crews at the scene.

Wednesday morning, Director of Public Works Randy Gibbon said French had been released from the hospital and is now home with his family. He also said that the driver, 90-year-old Fred Wuthrich of Sidney, phoned the injured DPW workman at home and personally apologized for the incident.

The accident occurred at around 1:13 p.m. on Rt. 32, just north of the red light intersection at Hale Street. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office said French was in a posted work zone at the time and directing traffic as other DPW employees were shoveling the road side ditches.