Davis Law Group, P.S.

Driver falls asleep at wheel, semi crashes on I-5

Story Highlights:
Possibly one injured in Chehalis semi truck accident
Motor vehicle collision caused by fatigue
Accident blocked right lane of Interstate 5



Date: March 12, 2011, 03/12/2011
Location: Chehalis, Lewis County, Washington
Type: Semi truck accident, Motor vehicle collision
Outcome: Possibly one injured

Around 1 a.m., while driving on southbound Interstate 5 eight miles south of Chehalis, a 75-year-old semi truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and rolled his vehicle.

The truck driver veered to the right, off the freeway, then over-corrected to the left, causing the rig and trailer to roll. The accident partially blocked the right lane.

Washington State Patrol reported that fatigue was the cause of the collision. Charges may be pending against the driver.

Chehalis Fatal Accident Statistics for 2009
Fatal accident count: 1
Vehicles involved in fatal accidents: 2
Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers: 1
Fatalities: 1
Persons involved in fatal accidents: 2
Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents: 0

Falling Asleep While Driving Accident Statistics
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually involve drowsiness and/or fatigue as a principal causal factor. Those crashes result in an estimated 1,500 fatalities and 71,000 injuries each year, and an annual monetary loss of approximately $12.5 billion. More than 10 percent of drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, while more than 20 percent say they have momentarily dozed while driving, according to the study of 1,024 drivers.

Washington State Semi Truck Accident Statistics
There are over 500,000 truck accidents in the United States every year. A high number of these truck accidents result in fatalities. Approximately 5,000 die in truck accidents annually. Ninety-eight percent of the time, the passengers or driver in the other vehicle is killed as opposed to driver or passengers in the truck. In 2009:

• 1,131 Large Trucks Involved in Non-Fatal Crashes
• 107 Large Trucks Involved in Injury Crashes
• 126 Injuries in Crashes Involving Large Trucks
• 1,024 Large Trucks Involved in Towaway Crashes
• 29 Large Trucks Involved in Hazmat (HM) Placard Crashes

Seattle Semi Truck Accident Lawyers
If you or a family member has suffered as the result of a car accident, Seattle car accident attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group, P.S. can help you. We understand the devastation that can occur as a result of being in a serious auto accident. We are committed to helping car accident, trucking accident, and motorcycle accident victims recover the just and fair compensation they are entitled to receive under the law.