Articles Posted in Automobile Accidents

Five separate crashes, involving 16 vehicles, slowed traffic Friday on I-5 between Burlington and Mount Vernon. This caused major problems for holiday shoppers driving to local malls. The automobile accidents included two hit-and-run drivers who troopers are still looking for.

“Everyone stopped and there was a semi in front of me and just, there it is,” said one driver, slapping his hand to show how quickly the truck accident he was involved in happened.

One bad move started the whole mess at approximately 11:30am. Traffic crossing the Skagit River Bridge started to back up. “We had a couple of cars slow down on the bridge, one of those was struck and basically a chain reaction after that,” said Trooper Keith Learn, of the Washington State Patrol.

A 2004 freeway auto accident on I-405 in the Seattle area which left a Renton woman blind and disfigured has resulted in a $15.5 million verdict. According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, 28 year Maria Federici said she hopes the money will help her get back to living a more normal, independent life.

The University of Washington graduate was nearly killed when a board flew from a U-Haul trailer and smashed through her windshield. It took the Superior Court jury nearly a week to decide that U-Haul was a big part to blame for the accident. Jurors found U-Haul to be 67% at fault in the accident, and the driver of the U-Haul truck to be 33% at fault, for not tying down the entertainment center he was towing in the open trailer.

The $15.5 million verdict will help Federici pay for the innumerable surgeries she still faces and possibly a house. Federici hopes to someday be able to live on her own. “It’ll just help me get back to living a bit more of a normal life-as normal as it can get. I hope it opens people’s eyes up on this matter,” she said, referring to bringing awareness about the dangers of driving with unsecured loads.

A 17-year-old smashed head-on into a truck on Wednesday, leaving him with critical injuries. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center after the trucking accident.

According to state troopers, the teen, who was driving a Honda, was heading north on I-5 near Centralia. He apparently drifted off the right side of the road. Then, say the troopers, he overcorrected and flew under (not over) the median.

Lt. Sean Hartsock, of Washington State Patrol, said, “His front end was down so as he went underneath, that cable barrier came back up the other side and hit this pickup. I’ve not personally seen a case where a vehicle has come under.” The crash is being investigated by both the state patrol and the state Department of Transportation.

A couple from Michigan escaped personal injury last Sunday when a 600 pound cow fell on their mini-van in Manson, located in Eastern Washington.

The Chelan County Fire Chief said the couple was lucky they weren’t killed when the cow fell from a cliff, smashing into their vehicle. According to the Seattle Times, District 5 Chief Arnold Baker said that the couple missed being killed by a matter of inches, as they drove on Highway 150 near Manson, which is located in Chelan County.

“It was “bam” – you just saw something come down and hit the hood,” the mini-van driver told the Wenatchee World newspaper. The newspaper also reported that the man said he didn’t see the cow until it hit and didn’t realize what had happened until after the Auto Accident.

Seven people have been hospitalized following a head-on car crash in Lacey. Police are still investigating the Washington Auto Accident.

According to the Lacey Police, the collision happened on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007, near Ruddell Road and 45th Avenue. Involved were six teenagers driving a Honda, and one woman in a sport utility vehicle.

The details of the Washington Car Accident have not been sorted out yet by police, but it is known that the teens were driving southbound on Ruddell Road new Raininer Vista Community Park. The woman was driving northbound. The two vehicles collided, though the police have not yet determined who crossed the median.
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A man crashed into two parked cars in North Portland and nearly severed a woman’s legs on Saturday, October 27th, 2007. The auto accident caused the woman to be pinned between both vehicles, and as a result, her legs were crushed.

According to King5.com, the accident occurred just before 5:30pm in the 7700 block of North Chautauqua Boulevard in North Portland. The 47 year old woman was standing between two parked cars when a pickup truck hit the car behind her. The woman was sandwiched between the two vehicles.
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Three vehicles were hit by falling rocks while driving on southbound I-5 August 29th near 272nd Street. The softball and basketball sized rocks were thrown onto the freeway at about 2:15am.One of the rocks went through the windshield of a semi truck. The driver sustained minor injures and was treated at the scene. Two other vehicles, an SUV and a sedan were also hit by rocks. Troopers believe that who ever threw these rocks meant to hurt someone.

This is not the first incidence of someone throwing rocks onto I-5. In 1990, Les Miller was killed instantly when a 16 pound rock was thrown onto I-5 hitting his vehicle. It took investigators some time, but they eventually found kids who threw the rock. State troopers are increasing patrols in the Federal Way area hoping to find those behind this most recent act. They are also asking that anyone with information about the rock throwing to contact the Washington State Patrol at 425-649-4370.

Article Source: http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9446131.html

Many drivers will be involved in an auto accident at some point in their lives. According to the National Safety Council, one in eight drivers will be in an accident this year. If you happen to be one of those drivers involved in collision, here are some tips to help you minimize stress, prevent injury, and save your time and money.

-When driving, stay calm and protect yourself. Avoid road rage and stay rational when encountering irrational drivers.

-If you are involved in an accident, stop. Don’t leave the scene until you speak to the other driver or to the police.
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A man was left paralyzed July 28th when a non-mounted speaker in his truck flew forward and hit him. The 27 year old Redmond man was stopped at the NE 70th ramp meter light attempting to get onto northbound I-405 when a Ford F-250 pick up truck rearended him. The speaker flew forward during the accident and struck him, breaking his neck. The injured man was left a quadriplegic and remains at Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. The driver of the Ford F-250, a Bothell man, was not injured in the crash.

The Washington State Patrol is urging people to be cautious when mounting devices, such as speakers, in their vehicles. Appropriate brackets designed to withstand impacts or sudden stops should be used.

Article Source: http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_073107WAB_speaker_paralyzed_SW.cd0f27f1.html

Questions about highway cable barriers were once again raised after a fatal crash occurred July 22nd in Fife. Sunday’s accident was the first fatal crash involving the cable median barrier to happen outside of the Marysville area. A review of the cable barriers, ordered by Gov. Christine Gregoire, concluded that the barriers have performed excellently except for a 10 mile stretch of I-5 in Marysville where eight people have died in cable related accidents. According to the report, median crossover collisions account for about one fifth of disabling injuries and fatalities on state highways. State officials say that cable barriers work about 95 percent of the time and are built to handle impacts of up to 62 mph.

The fatal accident Sunday morning closed northbound I-5 for several hours and backed up traffic for six miles. The deceased driver, 21, was driving southbound at speeds estimated to 100 mph when his car drifted to the left shoulder. He hit the cable barriers, proceeded through the median and struck several cars heading northbound. According to state trooper Cliff Pratt, it appeared that at least one of the cables was severed during the crash.
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