Berrien County officials are reminding drivers of the importance of being extra cautious when near work zones following the death Wednesday of a Berrien County Road Department employee. 57-year-old William “Mack” Isom of Baroda was worked to remove a tree branch that had fallen into the travel lanes of Red Bud Trail in Oronoko Township when police say a drunk driver plowed into the tree branch. Isom was pronounced dead at the scene. Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette tells us the mood was somber Thursday at county offices.
“The best way I can put it is it’s just awful,” Dissette said. “We started our morning with roughly 80 road department workers meeting at the road department. We went through a debrief of what occurred yesterday, and then had grief counselling services on site to assist anyone who is struggling with what occurred yesterday.”
Dissette said Isom was the lead worker at the road department garage in Baroda.
“Mack spent nearly 25 years serving the public, and he was doing that yesterday at 3 o’clock. He was attempting to do his job. He actually had a former coworker who had stopped to offer him some help, and the driver of the vehicle struck Mack and he died at the scene.”
Dissette says the crash is a reminder for everyone.
“I would say just slow down, be cautious when near workers in the roadways, workers for law enforcement, workers who are just out performing work on behalf of the public.”
The driver in the crash has been identified as 34-year-old Taylor Johnson of Buchanan. He’s been charged with drunk driving causing death and was arraigned Thursday. Dissette says the county is now working with MIOSHA. He says police have provided excellent service and support for the county following the crash.
