It took lower than 90 seconds for Bethany Blankenship’s life to alter.
She and her crew have been patching potholes alongside the shoulder of northbound Interstate 5 close to Ridgefield after a January 2024 ice storm when an alleged drunk driver drove into the again of the work truck.
Blankenship stated she discovered this was a risk throughout her coaching, however didn’t suppose it might occur after solely six months on the job.
“The force was incredible. It shattered the back window,” stated Blankenship, a freeway upkeep employee and volunteer firefighter. Her seat belt saved her life, however she nonetheless suffers everlasting accidents and ongoing trauma.
Clark County ranks fourth in Washington for work zone crashes — with a 17 p.c spike from 2023 to 2024.
On Thursday, Clark County Public Works, the Washington State Division of Transportation, Vancouver Public Works and the Portland Bureau of Transportation hosted a media occasion to advertise Nationwide Work Zone Consciousness Week, which begins Monday. Their message for Clark County drivers: Decelerate and keep alert
“We all want to go home at the end of the day,” Blankenship stated. “Behind the orange vest is a human.”
Six seconds
After convening at Clark County Public Works’ 78th Avenue Operations Heart, officers led reporters to Northeast Padden Parkway, the place Dahntehy Cruz was spending his fourth day on the job selecting up trash alongside the glass-strewn shoulder. Site visitors roared by simply toes away.
Somewhat farther down the sloped greenway, a highway crew mowed the grass in neat rows. Even with autos touring the posted 50 mph velocity restrict, the frenzy of air rolled down the hill and rippled the freshly lower blades.
Cruz and different state staff and leaders reminded drivers to remain vigilant.
“They work in an environment where even the smallest distraction can have devastating, far-reaching consequences,” Clark County engineer Jeremy Provenzola stated. “You read a text while driving at just 35 mph, even six seconds, you’ll travel the length of a football field without your eyes on the road.”
Provenzola defined that in these six seconds, something may occur — a sudden cease in site visitors, a baby operating into the highway or passing highway staff doing their jobs.
“One text isn’t worth the risk of serious injury,” Provenzola stated. “When you’re driving, you hold more than just the wheel in your hand. You hold your life and the lives of others.”
Carley Francis, WSDOT regional administrator, identified that 95 p.c of these concerned in roadside crashes are members of the general public, not highway staff.
She stated work zone crashes are preventable and urged drivers to observe “common sense behaviors,” akin to staying sober, avoiding telephone use, adhering to hurry limits and remaining conscious of highway staff.
Since final 12 months, WSDOT has carried out extra preventive measures for work zones and is exploring new security gear to cut back crashes. Francis stated drivers might face delays as a part of these efforts, which embrace the introduction of velocity cameras on Clark County roads.
“These strategies mean that the public might be additionally inconvenienced to prioritize safety,” Francis stated. “Your trip might take more time, but it’s worth it to ensure everyone arrives in one piece.”
Clark County sheriff’s Detective Ryan Durbin, who works within the site visitors murder unit, reported that in 2024 his group investigated 486 crashes that resulted in 300 accidents — an increase from the earlier 12 months.
Durbin recalled a site visitors cease final 12 months when his patrol automobile was struck by a distracted driver. He was hit by a few of the particles brought on by the crash.
Ben Kemp, a Clark County freeway upkeep crew chief, stated to be cautious not solely on busy roads however at managed site visitors websites. Final 12 months, a driver ran over the toes of one of many staff, he stated. He suggested drivers to not solely decelerate when driving previous site visitors management zones however to make eye contact with crew members.
“I like to go home every night. I like all my crew to go home every night,” Kemp stated. “I don’t want to be the one to have to make that phone call to somebody’s loved one to say they’re in the hospital or they’re not coming home.”
