Overturned pickup, fallen light pole close Highway 20 in Oak Harbor
A multi vehicle crash on Highway 20 at East Whidbey Avenue on November 21 left a pickup overturned and a city light pole toppled, but only minor injuries were reported. The at fault driver was arrested after officers traced the vehicle by its license plate and a breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration around .300, a level with broad implications for public safety and municipal infrastructure.
A crash in front of the Jack in the Box on Highway 20 at East Whidbey Avenue on November 21 resulted in an overturned pickup and a fallen light pole that temporarily blocked the roadway, though injuries were limited. Oak Harbor Police Department Chief Tony Slowik told reporters the pickup driver sustained minor injuries. The incident prompted an investigation and a temporary disruption for motorists during cleanup.
According to police accounts, the collision began when a driver following a Ford pickup too closely struck it from behind. The rear end impact caused the Ford pickup to flip and strike a light pole, toppling the pole onto the road. Officers were able to track down the at fault vehicle through its license plate and located it parked at a nearby residence. The driver of that vehicle was arrested after a breath test registered at about .300.
The toppled pole will require reinstallation by the city, creating costs and a short term stretch of reduced lighting for the corridor. City crews and police worked at the scene, and photographs from the response show the overturned pickup and the damaged infrastructure. The roadway blockage and subsequent cleanup affected traffic on a busy corridor that connects local neighborhoods and businesses, highlighting how a single crash can ripple into community access and daily routines.
For Island County residents the collision underscores two immediate concerns. First, the physical safety of drivers and pedestrians on a state highway that passes through commercial areas. Second, the fragility of public infrastructure when struck by vehicles and the municipal costs that follow. Law enforcement action in this case removed an impaired driver from the road, but residents and local officials will face the consequences of repair work and the short term loss of a travel lane.
Investigators continue to review the crash, and the city will coordinate repairs to restore the light pole and normal traffic patterns along Highway 20.
