By Celeste Dimichina
Nestled in the heart of southwest Washington, Beth Blankenship and her husband Kyle lead lives intertwined with public service, both personally and professionally. Beth serves as one of our highway maintenance workers in the southwest region and is also a volunteer firefighter. Her husband Kyle is a seasoned firefighter with Cowlitz Fire Department. Together, they have dedicated themselves to ensuring the safety of their community. However, their lives took a dramatic turn on the night of Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, when they experienced firsthand the dangers of suspected impaired driving.
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| Emergency responders assisting our maintenance crews, who were rear-ended by a suspected impaired drive on southbound I-5 in Clark County, on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024 |
A crew member's worst nightmare
Beth vividly recalls the events of that fateful night with a mixture of disbelief and gratitude.
"Our crew was called to fill potholes on I-5 in northern Vancouver following a string of winter weather. Little did we know, we would become victims of someone's poor decision," she recounts.
Within 90 seconds of pulling to the shoulder to begin work on the roadway in a marked work zone, their work truck was hit from behind at a speed of nearly 70 miles per hour.
The crash was catastrophic, leaving Beth and five other crewmates suffering from serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
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| Beth Blankenship wearing an orange WSDOT Safety vest and cap. |
Amidst the chaos, coworkers demonstrated strong support and camaraderie. "Everyone that night was worried about each other," Beth recalls. Fortunately, her coworkers had her husband's phone number since she lost her phone during the incident. She called Kyle directly to inform him of the situation, recognizing that as a full-time firefighter, he might receive the information from dispatch—she wanted him to hear it from her first.
After confirming everyone was "okay," the crew went to check on the driver who rear-ended them. Four of the six crew members, including Beth, are also volunteer firefighters with first aid training. However, as they worked to assess the driver's injuries, Beth realized her own injuries were limiting her ability to help, and she was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
A spouse's worst nightmare
Upon receiving the call from Beth, Kyle immediately left work, and headed to the hospital.
"When your loved one is involved, you don't realize how fast you jump into panic mode," Kyle shared.
Kyle arrived at the hospital that night, uncertain of Beth's condition. The fear of potentially losing his wife weighed heavily on him. "You never want to be on the receiving end of the phone call telling you that your loved one has been injured. But that's what happened to me. And I'm here to tell you, it's a position you never want to find yourself in."
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| Kyle & Beth Blankenship pose together in their turnout gear, during fire training |
The dangers of driving under the influence
In 2023, there were 1,228 work zone crashes, 10 of which were fatal, and seven were DUI-related. In the first two months of 2024, Clark County alone recorded two work zone crashes linked to suspected impaired driving, including the incident involving Beth.
The new normal – that's anything but
The aftermath of the crash left Beth with physical injuries and emotional trauma.
"I have lower back pain and bruised knees from the work zone crash" she shares. "The crash was so forceful that it sent me into the dashboard. If I close my eyes, I can still feel the impact."
The road to recovery is long and uncertain. More than anything, Beth wants to get back to work but acknowledges she's afraid. She says even getting into a vehicle to travel to the doctor made her anxious about the possibility of being struck again.
After nearly two months, Beth was cleared to return to work the week of March 18.
Kyle, who admitted that he hadn't discussed the crash with anyone, openly shared how this incident has affected his life.
"I wake up every morning thanking God that she's still here. It's a reminder that people really need to be more aware of their actions and they need to have a plan. It doesn't matter if it's 2 a.m. or New Year's Eve. People driving need to pay attention and slowdown in work zones, and never drive under the influence."
A voice for change
Many of our workers have experienced close calls, serious injuries and even deaths in our work zones. It's rare to find a crew that hasn't had an injury or multiple close calls.
Beth's message is clear: the consequences of reckless driving extend far beyond the crash. Those incidents have lasting emotional and psychological effects on our crews and their loves ones who support them into recovery and beyond.
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| Beth and Kyle take a break during fire training to pose together for a photo |
Reflecting on their roles as public servants and first responders, both Kyle and Beth understand and embrace their career choices. Our crew members take pride in their work as public servants, and just want to go home at the end of their shift to see their families.
To ensure everyone's safety, they urge the public to take precautions in work zones: slow down, stay vigilant, and show respect to fellow road crews and first responders just doing their jobs. They also stress the importance of never driving under the influence.
In the weeks following the crash, Beth shares, "The support here at WSDOT has been amazing." Reflecting on the outpouring of kindness and compassion she's received from colleagues and strangers alike, she adds, "I wouldn't be able to focus on my recovery without their support."
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| Beth and Kyle working together to fight a planned fire during a recent fire training exercise |
Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the power of one bad decision. Beth and Kyle Blankenship may have survived the crash, but their message echoes far beyond the confines of a single incident: drive safely, stay focused and protect the lives of those around you.
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