A cable worker who was flagging traffic was injured Monday afternoon when a car struck him nearly head-on, police said.

Randy Grzelka, 49, of Ellwood City was part of a work crew installing fiber-optic cable on Route 228 near Overbrook Road about 1:10 p.m.

“Based on the investigation and witnesses, we’re estimating the car was going around 40 mph,” said Middlesex Township police Sgt. Randy Ruediger.

The impact sent Grzelka airborne and into the windshield of the 2004 Chevrolet sedan driven by 73-year-old Robert Falconer of Gibsonia.

“He was complaining of breathing difficulty and pain in the chest area,” Ruediger said of the flagger. Falconer was not hurt.

A Quality Ambulance crew immediately tended to Grzelka before taking him to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. His condition was not known this morning.

Ruediger described the injuries as “moderate.”

Police said the crash is under investigation and no decision has been made about any charges.

“There was a lot of traffic there when it happened,” Ruediger said.

The accident happened at the intersection to a Marcellus Shale drilling site. Grzelka was attempting to direct truck traffic in and out of the site.

“The flagger was focusing on the trucks and took his eyes off the (westbound) car,” Ruediger said. “The car never stopped and ran right into him.”

Grzelka and at least two other employees of J & R Utility of Ellwood City at the time were installing fiber-optic cable on utility poles.