Ephrata, Washington – Pedestrian Seriously Injured After Getting Struck by Vehicle on Dodson Road

Ephrata, Washington (November 2, 2019) – A pedestrian sustained serious injuries after getting struck by a vehicle on Dodson Road Northwest on Saturday night. The patient, identified as 23 year-old Zoe Tannler from Ephrata, was airlifted to Confluence Health in Wenatchee for treatment.

The incident happened shortly before 8 p.m. Tannler was reported to be walking northbound along the road when she was struck by a vehicle who driver has been identified as Alisha Merritt. The Washington State Patrol was asked to investigate the matter as Merritt was determined to have been driving under the influence.

About Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, as shown in this case, pedestrians are at also risk while on the streets, with the National Center for Health Statistics estimating 7, 450  pedestrian deaths in 2017. Pedestrian accidents can fall under traffic or non-traffic depending on the location where they were struck. Traffic incidents happen on public roads, while non-traffic incidents occur on non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots and other private property. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban settings, on urban roads (72%) versus on intersections (18%), and mostly at night. Much like motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents can happen simply because people are not as visible as other vehicles, a problem which is worse during night. And in an event of a car crash, similar to motorcycle drivers and passengers, the risk to pedestrians are greater than those inside a car, with fatality rate being 1.5 times greater than any car passenger.When it comes to risk, older adults, children, and alcohol-impaired drivers or pedestrians are at most risk in pedestrian accidents. The risk is further heightened in a situation where a vehicle is at high speed. Lately, distractions also cause accidents not only for drivers, but also pedestrians, specifically those who are using their phones while crossing the road. We urge everyone to exercise area awareness at all times and to keep their attention on the road. Avoiding accidents not only prevents loss, damage, injuries and death to one’s self, but also on other people in the surroundings.

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