OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The father of an Oakland County road worker killed in a July construction-zone crash says he is choosing forgiveness, even as he just begins to grieve the son he calls his “very best friend.”
“I think the seven stages of grief, I have them every day,” Stan Jones said. “The biggest question for me is, why my son? Why did he have to leave six babies without a father?”
Kimberly Taylor, 59, of Farmington Hills, was arraigned Nov. 19 with one felony count of moving violation causing death in a work zone and two misdemeanor counts of moving violation causing injury in a work zone.
Investigators said Taylor’s southbound SUV crossed the median on Orchard Lake Road near Misty Pines Drive on July 23 around 11 a.m., striking three Road Commission for Oakland County workers conducting sewer repairs.
Cedric Jones, 43, a father of six, died.
Two co-workers, 55-year-old George Thomas and 57-year-old Robert Dinkins, were hospitalized with serious injuries.
The Road Commission said the tragedy was a “sobering reminder” of the dangers faced by road workers and called on all drivers to stay alert.
At a ceremony this week, the road-maintenance garage in Southfield unveiled a plaque honoring Jones. His father, Stan Jones, said the tribute was “completely bittersweet.”
“You’re never supposed to bury your kids,” Stan said. “It’s unfathomable that my 44-year-old son is no longer here with me today. It is crazy.”
Stan, fighting through his grief, paused when asked what he would say if he could speak to Cedric now. Then, the father, simply missing his son, gently let the tears come.
“He knows I love him,” Stan said. “He knows we love him. We got him here. He can rest in peace, knowing that it’ll be taken care of here like it’s always been taken care of here.”
Stan told Local 4 that Cedric would have turned 44 on Nov. 25.
He recalled his son’s love for his work at the Road Commission for Oakland County and the pride he took in supporting his family — his loving wife and six children. Stan said he and Cedric talked nearly every day.
“He talked about life. He talked about even retiring. The Oakland County Road Commission, he loved it there to be honest with you,” Stan said.
But as much as Stan said he wishes and prays for his son to be back here with him, he also prays for the woman who took his life and offers her his forgiveness.
“I pray for her. I do,” Stan said. “Because I know she can’t be sleeping good. I know she can’t be in a good place knowing what happened to three lives. How each family has been changed by this whole thing. We have to practice forgiveness. We have to.”
Stan said this holiday season, he hopes people honor Cedric’s memory by practicing extra gratitude and forgiveness.
Taylor was released on a $5,000 personal bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for a pre-exam conference on Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. before Judge James Brady in the 47th District Court.
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