Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 25, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Linda Mullen, WSDOT, 360-905-2058 or 360-806-3625 (pager)

More than 100 vehicles expected to join in tribute to fallen WSDOT worker

OLYMPIA— The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is organizing a tribute to Sam Williams, a maintenance technician who died Tuesday after being hit by a car as he was flagging in a work zone on U.S. Highway 12 near Mossyrock. He died en route to the hospital

Gov. Gary Locke will attend the service and offer brief remarks. Other officials expected to attend include Transportation Commissioner Ed Barnes, WSDOT Secretary Sid Morrison, WSDOT Southwest Regional Administrator Don Wagner and other state and local elected officials.

Saturday's memorial procession will honor Williams' life and work and recognize the dangers transportation workers face every day. More than 100 vehicles from city, county, state and private organizations and individuals from Washington and Oregon have registered to participate in the motorcade. It will begin at WSDOT's Chehalis Maintenance Facility around 11 a.m. in Chehalis in Lewis County, travel southward on I-5 to U.S. Highway 12, and up to Morton, arriving at the Morton High School gymnasium (152 Westlake Ave.) for the 1 p.m. funeral service.

The procession is expected to affect traffic on I-5 between Chehalis and U.S. Highway 12. Motorists should expect delays on both highways between about 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and should take alternate routes if possible. Traffic on U.S. Highway 12 in Morton is expected to be especially heavy between noon and 1 p.m. and 2 and 3 p.m.

From I-5, take the Rush Road exit, number 72.

From the north, turn left off the exit ramp and head east about one block. Turn left on Rush Road. Follow it about a 1/4 mile. WSDOT's maintenance and engineering office is on the left.

From the south, turn right off the exit ramp. Go about 1/2 block. Turn left on Rush Road. Follow it about a 1/4 mile. WSDOT's maintenance and engineering office is on the left.

Note to the media:

At the family's request, no family members will be available for interviews or comments. They respectfully ask the media to allow them distance and privacy during this period. Media video cameras will be allowed in the west end of the gym. If reporters and camera operators leave before the service is over, please respect the nature of the event and minimize noise and potential disruptions.

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