Davis Law Group, P.S.

WSP trooper injured in Lynnwood collision

Story Highlights:
One injured in Lynnwood collision
Motor vehicle accident caused by DUI
Southbound lanes blocked for almost four hours



Date: August 9, 2011, 08/09/2011
Location: Lynnwood, Snohomish County, Washington
Type: Motor vehicle collision
Outcome: One injured

A Washington State Patrol trooper was injured in a collision near Lynnwood on Tuesday night.

While parked on the southbound Interstate 5 shoulder at 196th Street Southwest, Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Caiola was struck from behind around 10:45 p.m.

Rescue crews had to extricate the trooper from his vehicle, it was so badly damaged. Caiola was taken to Harborview Medical Center.

The 19-year-old woman driving the car that struck the trooper, and her three passengers were not seriously injured. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI and could be charged with reckless endangerment, vehicular assault, and minor in possession of alcohol.

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
In Washington State, 54% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve a driver that was under the influence of alcohol.  In 2009 265 people in Washington State lost their lives in drunk driving crashes.  In Washingon State there is a sharp increase in the number of drunk driving incidents near major holidays.

Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle collisions. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 16,694 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the United States in 2004. This figure represents 39% of all traffic incident deaths. In fact, more than 500,000 Americans are injured annually in drunken driving crashes.

In 2008, 255 people in Washington State lost their lives in fatal alcohol related motor vehicle collisions.  One hundred eighty-two (182) of those accidents involved a drunk driver whose blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.08 or higher.  In Washington State, 34% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involve a driver that was under the influence of alcohol.

Driving under the influence
A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state:
(a) And the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or
(b) While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug;
(c) While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

Seattle Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
We Only Represent Victims of Drunk Drivers. Not DUI Offenders. The drunk driving victim lawyers at Davis Law Group have experience dealing with collisions that were caused by someone who was under the influence of alcohol.If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed due to drunk driving crash Seattle attorney Christopher Davis has a team of dedicated and experienced lawyers th at will fight for the highest possible compensation for you.