Man dies after fleeing multiple motor vehicle accident on Highway 509

Posted on Oct 19, 2010

Story Highlights: One person killed in Burien car accident
Multiple motor vehicle collision caused by driver going wrong way
Highway 509 closed for over four hours

Date: October 19, 2010, 10/19/2010
Location: Burien, King County, Washington
Type: Car accident, Motor Vehicle Accident, Pedestrian Fatality
Outcome: One dead, Many injured

A man died early on Tuesday morning after causing a multiple motor vehicle collision by driving the wrong way on near South 128th Street on Highway 509 in Burien. He was killed after trying to flee the accident when he jumped the median and was struck by four different vehicles, possibly five.

The man started driving south in the northbound lanes and struck a Ford Explorer head-on, forcing it into an Acura that was driving behind it. The 31-year-old woman driving the Explorer and her passenger were taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injuries. The driver of the Acura and his passenger were also taken to the hospital for chest pains.

According to State Patrol, the driver of the wrong-way car attempted to flee the accident scene by jumping the center median and running into the southbound lanes of the highway where he was struck by four, possibly five, vehicles. His body was eventually thrown under the ambulance that was arriving at the scene and was pronounced dead immediately. The investigation is ongoing and it is still unknown whether drugs or alcohol are suspected as the cause of the collision.

Pedestrian Fatality Statistics

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, there were 69,000 pedestrians injured and 4,378 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the United States.

Washington State Highway Driving Law

"Negligent" means the failure to exercise ordinary care, and is the doing of some act that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances or the failure to do something that a reasonably careful person would do under the same or similar circumstances. A person is guilty of negligent driving in the first degree if 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, and exhibits the effects of having consumed liquor or an illegal drug. See RCW 46.61.5249 for more information on negligent driving.

Seattle Accident Attorney

Davis Law Group sends out its heartfelt thoughts and condolences to the families that were negetively effected by this unfortunate accident. Victims of these kinds of accidents are encouraged to find a good personal injury lawyer to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve for the financial, physical, and emotional strain that results from experiencing an accident of this degree.