ATSSA Signal September October 2020

The Signal | September/October 2020 35 The Foundation Emily Hause was just weeks into her first year of college last September when she received an early morning call that her father had been struck by a car while working on a roadway project. Her first thought was that hewas already gone but Barry Hause survived several daysbeforesuccumbing tohis injuries at a Lansing, Mich., hospital on Sept. 30, 2019. Letting himgowasmade easier because Emily’s father had told her a year earlier that he would never want to be on indef - inite life support. When both a neurosur - geonand traumasurgeonsaidonday four of his hospitalization that hewould have begun recovering if that were a possibil - ity, she andher father’s siblings—an aunt and an uncle—knew what that meant. “When he was actually gone, part of me was at peace because we believe in God and he was in heaven with my grandpa,” she said. “But it was really sad to think I would live most of my life without him.” Shegrievedbecausehewouldn’t be there towalk her down the aisle at herwedding or see the children, she would one day have, or continue bragging about her plans to become a doctor. BarryHause’s deathwas oneof two in the statewithin amonth last year, prompting MichiganDepartment of Transportation (MDOT) Director Paul C. Ajegba to issue a statement about the importanceof atten - tion while traveling through work zones. “At MDOT, our goal for the driving public and theworkforce is zerodeaths,” Ajegba said then. “No death is acceptable, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure the safety of the private industry andpublic employeesdoing the vital work of building and maintaining our roads.” Hause, 54, was working for a private company, making repairs at night to concrete pavement on Interstate 96 near Portland, Mich., whenhewas fatally injured on Sept. 23, 2019. KevinWhite,anMDOTmaintenanceworker diedOct. 23 after getting struck by a tire froma truck that passed the shoulder of another interstatewhere hewas clearing large debris. The 48-year-old man was the first MDOT employee killed on duty in a work zone since 2008, according to agency statistics. Ajegba was part of MDOT’s plans for the 2020 National Work Zone Awareness Week kickoff event that was canceled due to the pandemic and is expected to be part of the 2021 event, also hosted by MDOT. Last fall’s accidents were a tragic reminder of the need for that week. “MDOT employees across the state are grieving the lossof oneof ourown,”Ajegba said at the time. “Coming in the wake of the death of another road worker, it is a stark reminder of the risk these men and women take to help all of us travel safely each day.” Student’s dreams live on despite father’s death in highway incident Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship helps aspiring doctor pursue goal By Pamela Gould, ATSSA Staff Emily Hause and her father, Barry Hause, celebrate her graduation from Eaton Rapids High School in Eaton Rapids, Mich., in May 2019. She recently started her second year of college.