Put the brakes on fatalities for those who work on the highways

By Marilyn Goodheart

September 6, 1995, started out like every other morning. My husband, Master Trooper Dean Goodheart, left home for his job with the Kansas Highway Patrol. Dean was headed east on I-70 around 6:30 that morning when he observed a semi and proceeded to stop it for an inspection. 

He stopped behind the semi, turned on his emergency lights and began to perform the roadside safety inspection. As he stepped down from the driver's door of the semi cab, a westbound car driven by a young college student struck him. Dean's injuries were immediately fatal, and my life and our family were changed forever.

Dean was just 49 years old at the time of his death and had served the citizens of Kansas for 23 years. He knew the dangers he faced in this profession, but he loved to help people. The driver had been driving all night to return to college. It is a known fact that sleepy and distracted drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers.

This crash could have been prevented had the driver just slowed down and moved to the far lane and away from the emergency lights. The "Move Over'' Law had not been in force at that time. That lead the Kansas State Troopers Association to begin a crusade to bring the Move Over Law to Kansas. They reached out to me to advocate for the Move Over Law and hoping no one else would have to endure the same pain we did, I did advocate for the Move Over Law.

In 2000, House Bill 2641 was signed into law requiring drivers to “Slow Down and Move Over” near stopped emergency vehicles. This bill is known by many as the “Goodheart Law” and has reduced the number of emergency vehicles and officers being struck. Goodheart's Law was amended during the 2006 Legislative Session to incorporate roadside crews, such as the Patrol's Motorist Assistance Technicians and the Kansas Department of Transportation's highway road crews. The amendment requires traffic on four-lane highways to move away from vehicles engaged in highway construction or maintenance operations when those vehicles display amber flashing lights.

Since this law went into effect, it has saved countless lives and prevented injury and property damage. I believe Dean continues to protect the citizens, visitors, first responders, and his fellow colleagues due to this law.

Because of this tragedy, I became active with National Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). In March 2001, some of our Kansas survivors and myself were instrumental in starting a Kansas chapter to be there for other survivors. Kansas Concerns of Police Survivors supports families of officers killed in the line of duty.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication by Colonel Mark Bruce and his staff, Governor Jeff Colyer signed SB 375 into law on May 8, 2018, which designates memorial highways across Kansas in honor of the sacrifice our fallen officers have made. SB 375 was unanimously passed by both the House and Senate before its adoption. My husband Dean’s marker is located on Highway 83 north of Oakley and continues to Highway 24 west of Colby.

It's been 26 years since we lost Dean. This one moment in time caused my family's life to change forever. I lost my husband and best friend of 15 years. My children and grandchildren lost a great father, grandfather and mentor. Only three of my grandchildren were born before he was killed. He is missed by family, friends and co-workers at all functions in our life such as graduations, weddings, holidays and school activities.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of Dean. As you pass these highway markers, please remember to give all first responders and road crews room to work so they may go home to their families.

Marilyn Goodheart

KS C.O.P.S. Treasurer
Kansas Concerns of Police Survivors