Union representing state workers says MIOSHA cites MDOT in fatal work zone crash

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LANSING, Mich. (News 10) — A union representing state workers has claimed safety investigators have cited the Michigan Department of Transportation following a fatal work zone crash earlier this year.

The Michigan State Employees Association says it has been verbally informed a report from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is on the way, citing MDOT for violations at the site of the crash. MDOT says it has not seen the report and is not aware of its findings.

What happened in May

A construction zone on US-127 near Holt Road was the site of the crash in May, when a driver hit and killed two Department of Transportation workers, 51-year-old Bruce Wagner and 49-year-old Steve Spenle.

In August, 24-year-old Tyler Reck of DeWitt was charged with two counts of reckless driving causing death and two counts of moving violation causing death in a work zone. The case is still open.

The Michigan State Employees Association says MIOSHA is preparing to release a report claiming MDOT did not properly set up the construction site.

“The report has not been released yet, we have been made aware that they have cited MDOT within that report for failing to follow the required lane closure procedures while employees were working in the roadway,” said Jeremy Tripp, MSEA Political and Communications Director.

MDOT response

The Michigan Department of Transportation released a statement Friday afternoon saying officials have not been notified by MIOSHA about any findings related to the crash, or any citations against the department. MDOT added that the criminal investigation into the crash is ongoing.

MDOT shared the following statement:

“MDOT officials have not been notified by MIOSHA about any findings. There is still an ongoing criminal investigation in this tragic crash so we cannot comment further at this time. We want to remind motorists to slow down and pay attention in all work zones so tragedies, like this, never happens again.”

MIOSHA also tells News 10 there is an ongoing investigation into MDOT’s Mason Maintenance Garage.

Regardless of what the report reveals, the union wants MDOT to do more to protect its workers.

“Things continue to evolve. Technology continues to evolve. Vehicles continue to evolve. And that doesn’t necessarily spill over in the policies and procedures that we have in place,” Tripp said. “We have to take worker safety as a major priority in our state.”

Work zone death trend

State numbers show work zone deaths in Michigan jumped 17% last year. Nationally, fatalities moved in the opposite direction, with an overall decrease.

The Department of Transportation says it wants to remind drivers to slow down and pay attention in all work zones to prevent tragedies like this.

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