Mother of children rescued from fiery crash speaks out, thanks first responders

A mother said a paramedic and sheriff’s deputy saved her twins’ lives earlier this month.

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They were involved in a fiery crash in Champaign County on March 13.

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Aubrey DeLong said when she rushed to the hospital to check on them, she wasn’t sure they would be OK.

However, she told News Center 7’s Taylor Robertson that they are doing much better now.

“I love watching them grow up, especially having twins; they’re so different, but so similar,” DeLong said.

Her babies, Ariana and Alen, are only 15 months old.

DeLong said she was separated from their father and had full custody of him.

As previously reported, the twins were in the car with their father, Anthony Blakenship, when the crash happened at State Route 4 and Hawk Road.

His car left the road, hit a utility pole, crashed into a ditch, then burst into flames.

“My daughter was on the opposite side of the impact. And luckily their car seats were secure. And she just had a few lacerations on her forehead. My son, Bub, we call him, or Mr. Smiley, had a broken lip. A laceration on his upper lip and a big gash on his forehead, and he had to wear that neck brace for days, it was so hard to watch,” DeLong said.

Champaign County sheriff’s deputies suspected Blakenship of being under the influence and the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested him.

He was booked into the Tri-County Jail for OVI after the accident.

Court records show Blakenship is charged with multiple counts of aggravated vehicular assault, child endangerment and OVI.

“They took me into the room and told me their dad had been drinking, and I probably looked crazy. I was screaming and crying, I was so hurt,” she said.

DeLong said Blakenship was able to get out of the burning car.

“If it hadn’t been for the ambulance and the police officers that got them out of that car, they wouldn’t be here,” DeLong said.

She said she was trying to stay strong for her children, but it was difficult.

“I’m just trying to get to where I can afford a lawyer and make sure I have everything as a single mom; I just lost my job last month, but it’s my family that keeps us afloat. Without my mom and dad, I don’t know where we would be,” DeLong said.

Court records indicate a judge gave Blankenship $50,000 bail and he posted it.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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