Story Highlights:
Date: November 10, 2011, 11/10/2011
Location: Cle Elum, Kittitas County, Washington
Type:
Car accidentOutcome: Two injured
Two people were injured in a collision near Cle Elum on Thursday morning. Around 8:15 a.m. a 48-year-old man was driving east on Interstate 90 when he fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the median, and struck a semi-truck heading west. The impact of the collision caused his car to split into two pieces. The first piece came to rest on the right shoulder and the rear piece came to rest on the left shoulder. Another semi-truck struck some of the debris.
The driver and his 17-year-old passenger were injured and taken to Kittitas Valley Community Hospital for treatment. Neither of the semi-truck drivers were injured.
Washington State Patrol cited the at-fault driver for second-degree negligent driving.
Negligent driving — Second degree. (RCW 46.61.525)
(a) A person is guilty of negligent driving in the second degree if, under circumstances not constituting negligent driving in the first degree, he or she operates a motor vehicle in a manner that is both negligent and endangers or is likely to endanger any person or property.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to negligent driving in the second degree that must be proved by the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence, that the driver was operating the motor vehicle on private property with the consent of the owner in a manner consistent with the owner's consent.
(c) Negligent driving in the second degree is a traffic infraction and is subject to a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars.
Falling Asleep at the Wheel 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.
Seattle Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
A motor vehicle accident is when a road vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, road debris, or man-made object. These collisions can result in personal injury, property damage, or death. Motor vehicle accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, semi or tractor trailer trucks, delivery vehicles, passenger vans, motorcycles, etc. Contributing factors in traffic accidents can be vehicle design, speed of operation, road design, driver distraction (texting or talking on a cell phone while driving), and driver impairment (drunk driving). If you or a family member has suffered as the result of a car accident in Washington state,
Seattle motor vehicle accident attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group, P.S. can help you. We are committed to helping car accident, trucking accident, DUI accident, and motorcycle accident victims recover the just and fair compensation they are entitled to receive under the law.
Category: Car Accidents
Davis Law Group and attorney Chris Davis has been featured in news reports on these local and national news sources:
To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", hit "Post Message."
Vehicle Accidents
Wrongful Death
Child Injuries
Medical Malpractice
Catastrophic Injuries
Dog Bites
!['I'm happy with the Davis Law Group [and] the service they provided.'](/video/im happy with the davis law group and the service they provided.jpg)
