COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) A Colorado mother hit by a falling light pole on Interstate 25 is sharing her story with affiliate KDVR, hoping to raise awareness as she battles the state’s claims process almost a year later.

Driving along I-25, light poles are a constant sight lining the roadway.

“That’s why I feel like it’s important to share my story, because this could happen to someone else and this could kill someone,” Colorado mother Danielle Finzel said. 

Finzel feels lucky she’s alive to share her story after a light pole fell on her in traffic on I-25 in the spring of 2024.

“I see a light pole on the interstate start to fall and realize that there’s nowhere I can go,” Finzel said. “If I try to swerve, I’m going to hit another car, and it’s going to be a direct hit. So, I basically braced and held on to the steering wheel and braked as best I could.”

Finzel survived with a concussion, back and neck spasms, trauma and around $15,000 in car damage.

“Police officers, the EMT referenced that the state would be responsible,” Finzel said. “So, we were hopeful that they would take responsibility for something that is so clearly their fault. I did not hit anything.”

However, the claim she filed with the state came back saying that in order for the state to be liable for damages, they must have had prior notification that a problem existed in that location. The claim company stated that the investigation with the Colorado Department of Transportation did not reveal prior knowledge of any damage or maintenance issues with the light.

Finzel followed up and filed records requests to CDOT concerning the pole that fell on her.

“I requested all maintenance records for the past five years and found there to be none; no maintenance was done on that light pole in five years, or possibly much longer,” Finzel said. “I also was able to find Colorado State documentation stating that signs, light poles, anything above freeways like that need to be maintained and checked at a minimum of four every 48 months or less. So, four years or less. And this, who knows, five years or more, nothing was done to check it. So that’s negligence on the state’s part.”

When KDVR asked CDOT about general maintenance protocols for light poles and about Finzel’s case, a spokesperson would not comment on the maintenance of poles. They directed us to the Department of Personnel and Administration, which handles liability claims.

The Department of Personnel and Administration, also known as risk management, shared the following response with KDVR:

“The CGIA outlines the legal standards for which the state is and is not responsible. Risk Management will continue to investigate and reconsider claims when citizens provide additional information to their initial claims. We are unable to discuss specific claims with outside parties.”

Finzel submitted a follow-up to her claim after discovering this research and receiving records request. She told KDVR she has not heard anything back on her claim after submitting this new information and she continues to try to get a response. 

“I don’t know what the cost, what it has to get to for them to wake up and say, OK, we will take responsibility to properly maintain things on these public roadways for the safety of our citizens and our drivers,” Finzel said. 

Finzel and another couple that KDVR recently spoke to after they were hit by a swinging road closure gate on I-70 said they can’t seem to find a lawyer to take on their cases, as they don’t have injuries costing over $100,000.