Impairment, Distracted Driving Cause Recent Seattle Car Accidents

Seattle’s roadways continue to play host to an alarming number of serious motor vehicle accidents. Several Seattle residents have tragically died as a result of recent crashes. A variety of causes have been attributed to the accidents, including impairment and distraction.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in car accident, other drivers or responsible parties may be liable for the harm you have suffered. The Seattle car accident lawyers at Wattel & York are available to review the details of your accident and subsequent injuries free of charge, and to advise you as to the best course of legal action.

ACCIDENTS CLOSE SEATTLE ROADWAYS

Car accidents have recently closed SW Sylvan Height Drive and Highway 99 for a period of time. The one-car rollover on Sylvan Height Drive closed the street for a short time while emergency personnel removed the vehicle. The driver of that car only suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

A two-car crash that closed Highway 99 for five hours did not end as well for the drivers and passengers involved. The collision, which happened in the middle of the afternoon on June 10, sent three people to the hospital with injuries. One man who had to be extricated from his vehicle was listed in critical condition, while two men from the other vehicle were listed in serious condition.

Highway 99 closed for five hours, creating gridlock throughout the downtown Seattle area.

IMPAIRMENT SUSPECTED IN OTHER CRASHES

In another recent crash, a 68-year-old woman drove her vehicle into her Lake Sammamish home, killing her partner inside and critically injuring her daughter and son-in-law. The driver’s 3-year-old grandson was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and was unhurt. The driver, who also appeared to be unhurt, was booked in the King County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. It was unknown if the woman had been impaired at the time of the crash, but it will take a number of weeks for toxicology reports to be completed.

A woman that caused a five-car accident on Highway 2 on June 2 is also being investigated for driving while impaired. The woman was in her vehicle with her two children, ages one and five, when she crashed into a car in front of her that was waiting to take a left turn. The crash set off a chain reaction that involved a total of five vehicles. The driver and passengers of the vehicle that was hit first, which included a mother and five children, had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Four of the children were listed in critical condition at an area hospital after the crash. The fifth child and the mother were also treated at the hospital for injuries and expected to make a full recovery. The driver of the vehicle that caused the crash and her two children were also okay after the crash, although the driver was treated at a local hospital for injuries and then released.

While investigating the crash, police found a marijuana pipe in the vehicle that initiated the collision. The driver of the vehicle also told police she had smoked a “bowl” of marijuana earlier that day. Toxicology reports are expected in the next few days. At this time, the driver of the vehicle has been charged with multiple counts of vehicular assault and is being held at the Snohomish County Jail.

CHOOSING SEATTLE CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Car accidents happen in an instant, but the consequences of those collisions often last a lifetime. If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car crash, the Washington personal injury lawyers at Wattel & York can help. We offer professional legal advice for anyone who has been injured in a car accident in Seattle and will work hard to ensure you receive compensation you are entitled to for medical expenses, lost wages and other losses. Call at 1-877-225-5562 to schedule a free evaluation of your case today.

Resources:

1. West Seattle Herald, One Car Accident Closes Down SW Sylvan Heights Dr., https://www.westseattleherald.com/2014/06/07/news/one-car-accident-closes-down-sw-sylvan-heights-dr
2. The Seattle Times, Driver Held in Crash Tells Troopers She Smoked a ‘Bowl’ of Pot, https://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023759996_highway2crashxml.html
3. KIROTV, Police: Driver Blamed in 5-Car Crash had Pot Pipe, https://www.kirotv.com/news/news/nine-hurt-6-critical-highway-crash-monday-night/ngCTf/
4. Seattle Times, Woman Arrested after Crash into House Kills 1, Injures 2, https://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/05/4-hurt-when-car-plows-through-house-and-into-lake-sammamish/
5. KING5, Crash Shuts Down Highway 99 for Five Hours, https://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/262620021.html