Warren Wessling’s wife raced to the scene after a crash alert from his phone—now a community is rallying around the family.
THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — A Thurston County family is facing what they describe as a life-altering road to recovery after a violent wrong-way crash left a husband and father critically injured.
“This is a long road that may be life long, it is going to impact our lives and our family forever,” said Kimberly Wessling.
That road began at a dangerous intersection in Thurston County, where deputies say a driver traveling the wrong way slammed head-on into Kimberly’s husband, Warren Wessling.
“I had a feeling where it was a dangerous intersection,” Kimberly said.
Warren was on his way home when the crash happened. Kimberly says she was just minutes behind him when she got the alert.
“My phone and watch let me know that he was in an accident,” she said.
She rushed to the scene.
“I immediately ran because I saw his car right there and I was screaming like that’s my husband,” she said.
The crash was so severe, the road was closed for hours. It took first responders nearly an hour to free Warren from the wreckage.
“I stood there by myself for like 45 minutes not even knowing if he was alive or if he was dead or what was happening because it took so long to get him out of the car,” Kimberly said.
Warren was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, where he remains hospitalized.
Deputies say the other driver showed signs of impairment and was arrested on suspicion of DUI and vehicular assault.
“That man made a choice to drive his car into my husband and this is not okay,” Kimberly said.
Warren serves as Chief Data Officer for the Washington State Patrol and is also an Army veteran. His wife describes him as deeply active and devoted to his family.
“He’s an athlete, he runs 30 miles a week on his lunchbreak he climbs and he skis with our daughter, we’ve climbed all the big mountains here in Washington,” she said.
Now, as Warren begins what could be a long recovery, the community is stepping in to help. A GoFundMe has been created to support the family as they navigate medical costs and time away from work.
“I’ve never had this kind of support, it’s overwhelming in the best way possible,” Kimberly said.
For Kimberly, the focus is clear.
“I will do anything for him and so will, I think the community,” she said.
Authorities say the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
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