Suspected DUI driver 2x legal limit crashes into WSDOT work zone on I-5 in Fife
Apr 20, 2026, 5:02 PM
A photo of the sign damaged by a suspected drunk driver on I-5 in Fife. (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)
(Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)
A suspected drunk driver crashed into a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) work zone over the weekend and attempted to flee the scene on foot.
As WSDOT crews were installing a 3,500-pound overhead electronic sign on southbound I-5 in Fife, the driver crashed into one of WSDOT’s large flashing arrow boards, the agency announced.
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The driver fled the scene on foot before being apprehended by law enforcement. At the time of the arrest for suspected DUI, the driver was two times over the legal limit.
WSDOT noted that no one was hurt in the incident, but it put a “damper” on the department’s hopeful news regarding progress towards safer work zones.
“This was originally going to be a post about the one-year anniversary of our work zone speed cameras. We were going to talk about how the early results are promising. Then one of our work zones got hit over the weekend,” WSDOT stated.
Data revealed that more than 60% of drivers on I-5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord were speeding through the work zone before cameras were deployed. That percentage dropped to as low as 30% during enforcement.
“If we can’t get through with an appeal to safety without having to report another work zone crash, how about an appeal to convenience?” WSDOT stated. “When impaired, speeding, or distracted drivers hit our equipment (or our workers), it causes a lot of distress and disruption, and there’s a chance the work has to last longer. One work zone crash can delay thousands of travelers relying on the road to open on time.”
WSDOT looks to expand its Work Zone Speed Camera program by adding more cameras and expanding to central and eastern Washington. On July 1, a driver’s first infraction will increase from $0 to $125.
“We’re grateful for safety features like work zone cameras, flashing lights, and truck-mounted attenuators, but the best safety feature for our crews is YOU,” WSDOT stated.
Additional information on the Work Zone Speed Camera program can be found here.
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