Truck hits picket line, killing striking United Auto Workers member in Jackson

JACKSON, MI – Over 100 people with lit candles crowded the corner of E. Michigan and S. East Avenue on Sunday, September 29th.

Family, friends and members of the United Auto Workers were there to show support for a union member who died after being struck by a vehicle during a strike demonstration near Eaton Aerospace in Jackson, said Donnie Huffman, president of the union UAW Local 475.

On Saturday, Sept. 28, around 11:30 p.m., two trucks were traveling at a high rate of speed on E. Michigan Avenue when one jumped the curb and struck five members who were demonstrating on the sidewalk, Huffman said. In a statement on social media, Jackson Mayor Daniel Mahoney said three people were in critical condition and one had died.

Jackson police did not respond Sunday to requests for details about the accident and the deceased member.

“As someone who has walked the picket line with you several times, this is deeply true,” Mahoney said. “I had planned to come to you during the late shift, but I never imagined it would happen under such tragic circumstances. My heart aches for all of you.”

Members of UAW Local 475 have been striking outside Eaton Aerospace in Jackson since Sept. 16 after the union contract expired.

On Sunday, many people gathered at the crash site for a candlelight vigil to honor the member who lost his life. The evening included prayers and members holding signs that read “UAW on Strike.”

Tony Potter, an elder with Kingdom Life Ministries and a member of Local 475 for 11 years, came to support the family, he said. At the start of the vigil, he led a prayer asking for grace and mercy for the family and other union members.

“This is the time for the entire UAW family to come together to support this family,” Potter said. “We went to the picket line because it was a matter of life and death for our families, not that anyone should die.”

MLive/the Jackson Citizen Patriot is not publishing the member's name because neither the police nor the union have released or confirmed it. A relative at the vigil declined to comment.

After the prayer, guests lit their candles, walked around the block and placed the lights in front of the member's memorial. It was filled with dozens of flowers, baseball caps, sneakers, gallons of Dr. Pepper, a video game controller and a Green Bay Packers jersey.

The union will continue its strike, Huffman said.

However, after 8 p.m., members will remain at the Eaton Aerospace building on S. East Avenue and will not be on E. Michigan Avenue, he said. He thanks the community for their support, he said.

“They broke our hearts,” Huffman said.

“We’re sad, we’re angry, whatever. It feels like a nightmare just waiting to wake up from it.”

Want more news from the Jackson area? Bookmark local Jackson news site or register for free”3@3Jackson” daily newsletter.