A state employee union is demanding answers and changes from the state's transportation department following the deaths of two road workers, several work zone accidents and recent "close calls."

The Michigan State Employees Association Labor and Trades Division demanded "full accountability" from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) after the May 26 deaths of road workers Bruce Wagner and Steve Spenle in a construction zone crash in Ingham County.

The association, in the demand letter sent to MDOT in late June, said it is calling for a full review of the incident, including whether there was proper signage and adequate safety equipment in the construction zone.

Better training, safer equipment

The group also is calling for better training, safer equipment, more Michigan State Police involvement in work zones, and a work group to examine further safety measures for road workers. It is critically important the issues are addressed "swiftly and effectively" to avoid further loss of life, the group said.

"Michigan needs to be on the forefront and lead the nation on worker safety for all MDOT transportation workers," the Michigan State Employees Association Labor and Trades Division wrote in the letter. "These workers deserve more than blame after tragedy. They deserve prevention before tragedy."

A spokesperson for the MDOT said Monday that the agency remains focused on advocating for safer driving practices and supporting the Wagner and Spenle families as the Ingham County Sheriff’s Department continues its investigation.

How to keep asphalt paving safe

"Driving is a privilege and holds enormous responsibility," said Jocelyn Garza, an MDOT spokeswoman. "This crash is a stark reminder of the danger road workers face daily, and the accountability every driver must accept before they get behind the wheel."

The crash also is under investigation by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).

Wagner, 51, and Spenle, 49, both of Mason, were killed while working along U.S. 127 in Ingham County. The Ingham County Sheriff's Department said a 24-year-old DeWitt man lost control of his vehicle in the northbound lanes and struck and killed the workers.

Wagner and Spenle were part of a rolling pothole repair detail at the time of the crash. Speed was believed to have been a factor in the crash, the department said in May. An update on the investigation was not immediately available.

Bad statistics

In April, the department estimated there were roughly 6,000 crashes in work zones in 2025, including ones that resulted in the deaths of 22 motorists and three construction workers. The numbers, the department said at the time, were comparable with incidents in 2024.

In its June letter, the union called on MDOT to conduct a full review of the work zone where Wagner and Spenle were hit, including a review of whether employees were allowed proper safety equipment, whether signs warned drivers to slow down and whether there was an arrow board directing traffic away from the crew.

More broadly, the statement also demanded the creation of work groups to determine better safety measures and investigate all "near miss" or work zone accidents involving road workers.

The statement called for improved safety protocol and training; better equipment, including barriers, signs, and trucks; the assistance of Michigan State Police in all work zones where there are lane closures; increases in wages and benefits, including hazard pay in high-risk work zones; and the development of a "robust public education program."

Change of technique?

Among the requests, the group said it wanted the department to bar the "throw and go" technique used to patch roads.

The technique requires road workers to throw asphalt into a pothole, which is later compacted by vehicle traffic. The association argued the effort requires road workers to operate from the shoulder with no lane closure and limited signage.

"Unfortunately, this is the method MDOT management was using when Bruce and Steve tragically lost their lives," said Jamie Swain, MSEA organizing and communications coordinator. "MSEA has been raising concerns about employees’ safety regarding road work for almost a year now."
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