May 19, 2025

By Lane Kimble

DEFOREST, Wis. — Jeff Dudman’s red, white and blue sweatshirt calls on drivers to do two things: “move over and slow down.”

The sweatshirt also covers two kinds of pain: physical and emotional.

“Now that I’m thinking about it more, my shoulder hurts, my leg hurts, but it’s not the end of the world,” Dudman said.

Dudman was helping clear crashed and disabled cars for WisDOT’s Freeway Service Team along I-39 south of Madison during a snowstorm in early 2020.

“I looked up, my tow truck was coming at me, and there was a big blue semi pushing it,” Dudman recalled.  “I ran for the center barrier.  I’m old, a little overweight, I’m too slow but I didn’t get smushed too bad.  Just six cracks in my shoulder, bone bruise on my leg.”

Dudman knows plenty of other roadside workers aren’t as lucky, including two Wisconsin highway construction workers killed in 2024, not to mention the traveling public.  It’s why he agreed to share his story during WisDOT’s Southwest Region work zone safety news conference Monday.

“We are very lucky (Jeff) is alive to be with us today,” Southwest Region Deputy Director Randy Hoyt said.  “Jeff’s dedication to helping others while putting his life in danger is the definition of a hero.”

The event also comes ahead of a busy Memorial Day Weekend.  AAA estimates 840,000 people in Wisconsin will travel at least 50 miles.  WisDOT plans to shut down road construction projects Friday through Monday, but plenty of risks remain.

“Even if it looks like crews are done working, reduced speed limits are still in effect,” State Patrol Lt. Phil Witkiewicz said.  “Road conditions can be unpredictable under (construction) conditions and reduced speed limits help protect workers and drivers.”

State Patrol troopers have already issued more than 300 citations for speeding and reckless driving in work zones in 2025.  That number will likely skyrocket as the busy summer travel season begins, leaving Jeff Dudman reflecting on that wintry day five years ago.

“Now I drive a semi instead of being hit by one,” Dudman said.  “Sitting up there, everybody’s still got their cell phone out… Pay attention and slow your life down.”