Wayland, MI (May 13, 2026) – Road workers were hurt after a van veered into a highway shoulder work zone on northbound US-131 at 140th Avenue in Leighton Township. The crash occurred on Wednesday, May 13, in the morning and was reported as a minor-injury incident.
A van moved out of the left lane and drove into the shoulder where a road crew was working. To avoid being struck, the workers jumped over a guardrail and were injured in the process. A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation said the workers “got lucky.”
The incident remains under review by authorities, and more details will be released as they become available. Our thoughts are with the injured workers as they recover.
Why Are Work Zone Crashes in Michigan So Common?
Work zone crashes in Michigan happen more often than many drivers realize, and they frequently result in injuries to both workers and motorists. Road crews working on shoulders and travel lanes are especially at risk because they have very little room to move away from approaching traffic.
Michigan law requires drivers to move over or slow down when passing vehicles with flashing lights, including road maintenance equipment. This rule exists because workers on foot have almost no protection when a vehicle drifts out of its lane. Even at reduced highway speeds, a vehicle entering a shoulder work zone can cause serious harm in a fraction of a second.
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of work zone crashes across the state. Taking eyes off the road, even briefly, can cause a driver to drift without realizing it, which is particularly dangerous in areas where workers are just feet from moving traffic.
