May 4, 2026

By Lane Kimble

MADISON — Two parents lost their son, three siblings lost their brother, and the construction industry lost one of its own in a tragic work zone crash late last week.

Carlos Lopez was hit while placing cones Thursday night, April 30 along Highway 51 (Stoughton Road) in Madison. He died at the scene.

Lopez had been in the industry for 3 ½ years and was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 139. He joined Forward Traffic & Marking as an experienced operator about six months prior.

Lopez was 23.

Madison police and court documents say the driver, 42-year-old Michael Martin, was drunk and driving without a license when he smashed through Lopez’s work zone around 10 p.m. Witnesses say Martin drove straight through the line of orange cones, hitting all of them. Fellow crewmates had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.

Police used traffic cameras to track down Martin at a home later that night. Dane County prosecutors on Monday charged Martin with four felonies and three misdemeanors. He’s being held on a $10,000 cash bail.

Lopez graduated from Lomira High School in 2021, was a Boy Scout, and loved three-wheelers and snowmobiles, according to his obituary. He also enjoyed restoring trucks and taking them to shows.

Lopez’s death happened just days after WTBA, WisDOT and partners wrapped up National Work Zone Awareness Week, reminding drivers to pay attention, slow down, and show construction crews the respect they deserve.

WTBA Executive Director Steve Baas discussed the tragedy on Newsradio 620 WTMJ in Milwaukee and Director of Communications talked with Channel 3 in Madison the day after the crash.

“We’re heartbroken by the loss of a member of our larger construction family,” WisDOT DTSD Administrator Rebecca Burkel said during a safety meeting this week. “Every person on our worksites deserves to return home safely and this tragedy really weighs heavily on all of us.”

WTBA extends its deepest condolences to Lopez’s family, friends, and coworkers at Forward Traffic.