DETROIT (WXYZ) — A road worker who was hit by a car along I-75 in Southwest Detroit on Wednesday afternoon has died, Michigan State Police confirmed on Thursday morning.
The worker has been identified by family as 53-year-old Jeff McLeod of Lincoln Park.
“He will be very, dearly missed," said Dylan McLeod, son of Jeff McLeod.
Dylan was fighting back years as he talked about his father.
“He was the best man I ever known, he was a loving father of three, a loving husband for nearly 30 years, a loving grandpa of four beautiful granddaughters," said Dylan McLeod. “He was an avid wrestler growing up, he got me to wrestle when I started in second grade and he was the best coach I ever had.”
According to Michigan State Police, the crash happened around 1:40 p.m., in the area of southbound I-75 near Springwells.
Police say McLeod was setting a flare pattern between construction vehicles in the right lane when he was struck.
A 71-year-old driver from Allen Park entered the right lane and struck McLeod, police say.
Dylan McLeod says his father was hardworking and had been a road worker for the past 20 years.
“He was as dedicated as someone could be, he was the main provider for our family... he was doing whatever he can to provide for our family," said Dylan McLeod.
No word yet on what caused the driver to hit Jeff McLeod but Diane Cross from MDOT says many crashes involving road workers are due to drivers not paying attention.
“Those folks on the side of the road are just trying to do their job," said Diane Cross. "You’re trying to get home, they want to get home too so anybody who works not the side of the word is always super cautious and you’re just praying that people are going to do the right thing.”
“We want to remind drivers to move over when they see construction vehicles on the side or in the roadway working.” MSP First Lt. Mike Shaw said in a statement. “The suspect that struck the worker stopped on scene after the crash. After the investigation is completed, an investigator's report will be submitted to the prosecutor's office.”
