Two MDOT employees killed in work zone crash in Lansing-area

LANSING, Mich.—The Michigan State Employees Association is mourning the loss of two Michigan Department of Transportation workers killed in work zone crash. The two MDOT employees were struck by an SUV in the northbound lanes of U.S. 127 shortly before 1:30 p.m. The crash happened just north of Holt Road in Mason, Michigan. According to the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office a vehicle being driven by a 24-year-old Dewitt man lost control and struck two MDOT workers, a 49-year-old Mason man and a 51-year-old Mason man. Both of the MDOT workers died on scene. The Dewitt man was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in critical condition. Northbound US127 was shut down to safely provide life saving efforts and investigate the scene. It was reopened at 6:30pm. A thorough investigation is underway and will take time. Speed is believed to be a factor, preliminarily. Names will be withheld until satisfactory notifications of kin can be completed. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Deputy Martin at (517) 676-8444 ext. 1957. President Jacob VanSickle of the Michigan State Employees Association issued the following statement: “Today, we are grieving with the family, friends, and coworkers of the MDOT workers who lost their lives while serving the people of Michigan,” said President VanSickle, “We are holding every person impacted by this tragedy close in our hearts. “MDOT workers show up every day to keep our roads safe and our state moving. They do hard, dangerous work, often just feet away from traffic moving at highway speeds. No one should go to work and not come home. “Out of respect for the families and coworkers who are living through this pain right now, our first responsibility is to mourn, support one another, and make sure they have what they need. But we also cannot ignore the truth that MSEA has raised serious concerns for years about highway work zone safety, signage, procedures, and protections for MDOT workers. The state has heard those concerns, and too often, it has refused to act with the urgency these workers deserve. “Safety cannot be treated as a talking point after tragedy strikes. It must be built into every work zone, every assignment, and every decision before workers are put in harm’s way. That means stronger signage, clearer procedures, better protections, real enforcement of safety standards, and listening to the frontline workers who know these dangers because they experience them every day. “Our members are proud to serve Michigan. They deserve to do that work safely. MSEA will continue standing with MDOT workers and their families, and we will keep fighting until the state takes these safety concerns seriously.” MSEA is calling on the department to honor the two lives lost on Tuesday by doing everything in its power to protect the MDOT workers who continue to serve Michigan on our roads. That means reviewing what happened, strengthening work zone signage and safety procedures immediately, and sitting down with frontline workers and their representatives to finally address the safety concerns they have raised for years.