YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP (WXYZ) — In 2020, so far five road workers have been hit and killed all while trying to make the roads safer.
Over the weekend in Ypsilanti Township, on I-94 near Harris, two men just 23 years old, were killed by an alleged drunk driver.
RELATED: Woman arraigned for crash that killed 2 construction workers on I-94
Both of the victims' families expressed their deep pain with 7 Action News. They also say they want to see laws changed as they mourn the loss of two young men who had bright futures ahead of them.
Nicholas Sada and Dayvon Rose, both 23, grew up together. They played sports together, hung out together and worked together.
"They were brothers they loved each other so much they were together every day before work after work they went to high school together," one family member said.
Nick started working at C&D Hughes repairing roads for MDOT a year and a half ago. His family described him as a All-American boy who played baseball and football.
They said one of Nick's main goals was to give his siblings someone to look up to.
After serving four years in the army, Rose came home in March and he joined Nick working on the MDOT road crew.
Dayvon's mother, Diana Rose-Stitt, revealed one of the last conversations she had with her son on the Friday before he was killed.
"I was like, why do they have you guys out there working at night? Do they think its safer? He was like mom, it’s worse at night," she said. "He’s like the cars just fly by. I just kept telling him please be safe please be safe."
Before starting his 1 a.m. shift, Dayvon wrote in a Facebook post, "Hoping all my drunk friends and family make it home safe tonight."
Forty minutes later, he and Nick were pronounced dead. They were hit by an alleged drunk driver while fixing the pavement on I-94 in Ypsilanti Township.
Ryann Musselman, 29, of Belleville, was arraigned Monday on two charges of operating while intoxicated causing death. Her bond was set at $10,000.
"My son served his country and then came home and was killed by a drunk driver and she’s free right now," Dayvon's mother said.
Nick and Dayvon's parents say they want to see measures in place to make things safer for road workers, especially at night.
A victim advocate told the family that while the woman accused could get up to 15 years in jail there is a chance she will only get one year and probation because she doesn’t have any priors.
There will be a candle vigil Wednesday on the Everett baseball field in Lansing at 6 p.m. for both of the 23-year-old men hit and killed while repairing I-94 last Saturday.
Visitation for Nicholas is Thursday. Click here for more information.
