As part of the safety campaign, there will be stories all next week from highway workers and contractor employees on this blog series. Their experiences help illustrate why work zone safety is so imperative.
We are reprinting a blog today from 2015 as an early start to the series. It's a reminder that one moment can change many lives forever.
Thank you for you support and efforts to improve safety for all in work zones.
You will always be loved
By Shirley McDonald
Before you turn on the ignition of your vehicle, take a moment and a deep breath. Focus. Clear your mind and think safety for yourself and others. Engage your seat belt, forget the cell phone.
Before entering a work zone, pay attention to the alerts that are given well before entry into the zone. Think about those whose lives depend upon you. We have all heard these admonitions, unfortunately many do not really listen to the message. Save a life, it may be your own.
In memory of Scott McDonald
killed in a work zone June 1, 2005:
A fraction of a second, a different decision, more awareness, and response ability and you might still be here with your family and friends. A horrific work zone accident on highway 75 took you away from us 10 years ago and our memories, dreams and plans with you and for you all changed.
Now you are immortalized, frozen in time while we go on living. You are missed every second of every day. Your loss created a hole that cannot be filled. A piece of each of us left behind died with you. Thankfully, you gave so much to us during your life that we can hold on to who you were and who you were becoming, but we will never know who you would have become.
Your enthusiasm for life, your constant dreaming that life would always get better, knowing that effort and direction in life could get you where you wanted to be are sorely missed. Your commitment to caring for and about others is a precious memory. Each holiday, birthday, anniversary, special shared event becomes a time of sadness and memory of you and your lack of presence in our lives today. We have had to learn to get beyond constant grief and focus on today and what we can do to honor your name.
As we have said goodbye to other relatives and friends our grief for your loss has swelled again and threatened to overtake us, but that grief has also proven to us that life goes on and that even with grief there can be joy as we commit to other relationships taking the risk to lose again knowing the benefits of being connected.
No one knows what happens when we die. But my mother's belief is that heaven exists and that you are there at peace and with those you have loved who have gone before you. I believe that you can see those of us left behind and serve as our angel. You will always be loved.
Shirley McDonald is the mother of KDOT employee Scotty McDonald, who was killed in a work zone crash in 2005.
This story is reprinted from KDOT's National Work Zone Awareness Week blog series that was published in 2015.
Shirley, I just want you to know how important and appreciated your efforts to raise awareness to improve safety in work zones have been through the years. Nobody can hear your story and not be affected. You've motivated people to make forever changes to their driving. I know you've saved lives. Thank you.
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