FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A road worker who lost his leg in a work zone crash returned home from the hospital on Thursday.
Robert Dinkins was injured on July 23 while working on Orchard Lake Road near 10 Mile Road when an SUV struck the work site. Two other Oakland County Road Commission workers were also at the scene; one, Cedric Jones, 43, died from his injuries.
Dinkins sustained significant injuries, including the amputation of his left leg below the knee and four fractures in his arm. “Not at all,” he said, when asked if he ever thought such an incident could occur.
Family members welcomed Dinkins home, expressing their relief. Melvin Clark, Dinkins’ cousin and former Oakland County Road Commission employee, shared his grief over the loss of Jones and the injuries suffered by Dinkins. “I am really hurt that a fellow road commission worker lost his life,” Clark stated.
Craig Bryson, spokesperson for the Oakland County Road Commission, conveyed support for the victims and their families, recognizing the challenging recovery ahead.
Dinkins emphasized the importance of caution in work zones, urging drivers to slow down. “Construction workers are only out there to make the roads better for everybody,” he said.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, according to Farmington Hills police.