Updated on: 10/12/2018
Washington State Patrol released video footage Monday showing a distracted driver slamming into a car that had pulled over for an ambulance.
The incident occurred Friday near Poulsbo on State Route 305 near Delate Road.
A vehicle had pulled over to the side of the road to yield to an oncoming ambulance that had its lights flashing. Footage shows a following car slamming into the back of the car, sending the distracted driver’s car airborne.
The ambulance avoided the collision and stopped at the scene to help.
No word if there were any injuries.
The driver from this 6/29 crash on SR 305 near Delate Road in Poulsbo said he was looking down at a text message before striking the back of a car yielding for an ambulance. There is a reason we are cracking down on distracted driving folks... #PutThePhoneDown #EyesOnTheRoad pic.twitter.com/ZKhGjnrWDc
— Trooper Chelsea Hodgson (@wspd8pio) July 3, 2018
Distracted Driver Was Texting When Crash Occurred
Washington State Patrol says the distracted driver that caused Friday’s collision admitted to looking down at a text message just seconds before striking the back of a car.
Distracted driving is a major problem across the United States, and multiple studies have examined just how dangerous this type of driving is.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claims over 3,000 lives every year. And the data on sending or reading a text is especially eye-opening.
From the NHTSA: “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field, blindfolded.”
So it’s no surprise that we continue to see crashes like the one above.
Crash Creates Buzz on Social Media
The WSP's video of the accident gained steam on Twitter in the following days.
Here is a selection of the responses:
@AlaskaCandie: The technology is there to stop the sending and receiving of texts & phone calls while driving. Use it.
@solitairystorm: It only takes a second. No one is immune.
@iamMWH: You are not that important. Leave the phone alone when driving. I see it all the time.
Distracted Driving in Washington State
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a distracted driver in Washington state, talk to an attorney at Davis Law Group, P.S., in Seattle. Attorney Chris Davis has nearly 25 years of experience handling major cases in the state, and we offer a free consultation to evaluate your case and help you understand your rights and what you are entitled to for financial damages.
Our lawyers advise and represent clients in communities throughout Washington state. Contact us at (206) 727-4000 to arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced Washington state distracted driving accidents attorney at our firm today.
