CHAMPAIGN COUNTY — A mother said first responders saved her children’s lives from a fiery crash last month.
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As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak and 11:00, they were involved in a fiery crash in Champaign County on March 13.
Aubrey DeLong said that as she rushed to the hospital to see them, she wasn’t sure if they were going to be okay.
The crash happened on March 13 on State Route 4 and Hawk Road in Champaign County, according to a previous News Center 7 report.
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DeLong told our news crew that they are doing much better now.
“I just love watching them grow, especially having twins; they’re so different, but so similar,” DeLong said.
Her babies, Ariana and Alen, are just 15 months old.
DeLong said she’s separated from their father and has full custody.
The twins were in the car with their dad, Anthony Blakenship, when the crash happened.
His car went off the side of the road, hit a utility pole, crashed into a ditch, and then caught fire.
“My daughter was on the opposite side of the impact. And thankfully, their car seats were strapped correctly. And she just had a couple of lacerations across her forehead. My son, Bub, we call him, or Mr. Smiley, had a busted lip. A laceration across his top lip and a big gash across his forehead, and he had to be in that neck brace for days. It was so hard to watch,” DeLong said.
Champaign County sheriff’s deputies suspected Blakenship was under the influence, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol took him into custody.
He was booked into the Tri-County Jail on OVI charges after the crash.
Court records show that Blakenship is charged with several counts of aggravated vehicular assault, endangering children, and OVI.
“They pulled me into the room, and they told me that their dad had been drinking, and I probably sounded crazy. I was screaming and crying, I was so hurt,” she said.
DeLong said Blakenship managed to get himself out of the burning car.
“If it wasn’t for the EMT and the police officers who pulled them out of that car, they wouldn’t be here,” DeLong said.
She said she’s trying to stay strong for her kids, but it’s hard.
“Just trying to get to where I can afford an attorney and make sure I have everything as a single mom; I just lost my job last month, but it’s my family keeps us afloat. If it wasn’t for my mom and dad, I don’t know where we would be,” DeLong said.
Court records indicate that a judge gave Blankenship a $50,000 bond, and he posted it.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
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