ADOT IRU member rescues kitten on freeway

On Thursday, Oct. 23, ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center received a call from a constituent, who reported seeing a cat on the transition ramp from State Route 51 southbound to Loop 202 Red Mountain eastbound in Phoenix. 

Yes, this is the heavily-traveled Mini-Stack.

Working with the TOC Operations staff, Incident Response Unit crew member Travis Benthin arrived on scene and came up with a plan to rescue the kitten, who was perched on the ledge.

“I wanted to not spook it,” Benthin said. “So I turned my raincoat inside out because it’s not as bright or distracting and put it on along with my gloves.”

By then, fellow IRU member Derik Woitaszewski had arrived and positioned his truck to give Benthin a safer environment. Benthin approached the cat, who wasn’t too fond of him at first.

“It hissed at me and I reached out with my left hand and put my right arm around it,” Benthin said. “It started to jump off (the ledge) and I was able to grab it.”

Last year, Woitaszewski had taken a rescued dog to Heidi’s Village, a nearby animal shelter in Phoenix, and that’s where this kitten was taken. During the drive, Benthin said the cat was scared and hid under the seat. By the time they arrived at the shelter, it was hiding in the back of the truck.

Benthin then gave the cat to the Heidi’s Village staff.

“It was a gorgeous cat,” he said.

If you see animals in travel lanes or near freeways, call 911. Don’t attempt to rescue them yourself – that’s dangerous. Law enforcement and ADOT crews will respond quickly and can implement traffic control for safer rescues.