ToledoTel Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Dale Merten wants to remind drivers to follow road crew instructions after two workers on a high-speed internet project in Winlock were injured on June 21.
According to Merten, the incident occurred near the Guadalajara Mexican Family Restaurant on state Route 505 around 5 p.m.
After failing to follow the instructions of a flagger, a motorist struck a work vehicle on the work site, totaling their vehicle.
Two workers were treated for minor injuries, though Merten fears the incident could have been much worse.
“People need to be aware and be cautious,” Merten said. “We were very lucky. This easily could have been a fatality for the flagger.”
According to Merten, the flagger sustained a hand injury, while a worker inside the truck also sustained unspecified injuries. The motorist was not injured, according to Merten, though their car was totaled in the crash.
According to Merten, the crash caused more than $70,000 in damage to fiber optic cables being installed in the project.
Merten said the driver received multiple police citations.
“All of this can be avoided if people just pay attention to the flaggers and drive slowly through the construction zone,” Merten said.
In October, officials broke ground on a joint project with ToledoTel to bring broadband service to more than 2,300 homes and businesses in the Winlock area.
The project includes 134 miles of line construction, funded through a $23.5 million grant from the Washington State Broadband Office and an additional $2.35 million matching funds from ToledoTel.
Merten previously estimated the project would be completed in October 2026.
