Bellevue, Washington – Suspected DUI Driver Injured After Crashing Into Tree

Bellevue, Washington (January 10, 2020) – A driver suspected of DUI was injured after crashing into a tree on the 1000 block of West Lake Sammamish Parkway on Friday afternoon. According to the report from KOMO News, the driver had to be extricated from the crash and firefighters later took the driver to a local hospital. The driver’s current condition has not been reported.

According to the report, the driver was heading west on the road just before 4 p.m. when the vehicle went off the road. The car then struck a tree, causing the tree to tall onto the road. The driver was reported to have been arrested for DUI. The incident caused the road to be closed as cleanup on the scene was ongoing.

About Vehicle Accidents

According to facts from the Insurance Institute Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute, about 20% of vehicle crash deaths are from striking a fixed object along the side of the road. The top three fixed objects that are struck in these cases are traffic barriers, utility poles, and similar to this case, trees. As for the causes of crashing into these objects, the case is generally that of driver error. Some of the top contributing factors are alcohol, driving under excessive speed, falling asleep or simply driver inattention. Additionally, a car crash caused by another vehicle can cause another vehicle to crash into another fixed object. Some situational factors are road conditions, weather, and poor visibility. In relation to poor visibility, almost half of the fatalities in crashes involving fixed objects are said to have occurred at night. While there are options such as placing breakaway or shielding objects along roads, or increasing the visibility of such fixed objects, the best solution is often to remove the fixed object if possible.

Regardless of the type of vehicle accident, the best way to solve a car accident is to try and prevent it. We urge all drivers to follow traffic regulations on the road. This includes following road safety, making sure one’s vehicle is stable and ready for the road, and making sure that one is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Additionally, one should take extra caution on roads where there are possible hazards. In doing these steps, we can ensure our chances of avoiding any loss, damage, death or injuries while on the street.

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