LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Two Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers died on Tuesday after being hit by an SUV on northbound US-127.

The crash happened near Holt Road just after 1:15 p.m. It forced the closure of the northbound lanes at Cedar Street for five hours.

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The Ingham County Sheriff’s Office said a 24-year-old DeWitt man lost control of his vehicle and hit the workers. The workers, ages 49 and 51 and both from Mason, died at the scene. The Michigan State Employees Association (MSEA) said a third worker was treated and released at the scene.

MSEA President Jacob VanSickle released 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. 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.”

The Ingham County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation is underway, though it appears speed was a factor in the crash.