Kettle Falls, Washington – One Person Killed After Crashing into Tree Off Highway 395

Kettle Falls, Washington (September 19, 2019) – One man was killed in a car crash off Highway 395 on Thursday afternoon. The victim has been identified as Robert M. Stanley. No other injuries were reported in the incident and it appears that no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

According to the report, Stanley was driving south on Highway 395 around 2:30 p.m. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but it appears that Stanley’s vehicle drifted off the road, causing him to crash. The Washington State Patrol has confirmed that drugs or alcohol are not a factor in the crash, and that the victim was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. No road closures in relation to the crash has been announced.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion to the friends and loved ones of the victim. Unfortunately, this is not the only case of a fatal car accident. 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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