Spokane, Washington – Car Crashes Into Stop Sign, Gets Struck on Top of Boulder

Spokane, Washington (February 24, 2020) – A chase involving a stolen car ended when the vehicle crashed into a stop sign and ended up on a boulder at the intersection of East Sprague Avenue and North Gillis Road on Monday. According to the article from The Spokesman-Review, the driver, domestic violence suspect Marionette R. Eblacas was arrested and received medical treatment following the incident. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The incident started when the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office received a call about domestic violence at a home on the 19100 block of East Marietta Avenue around 8:30 a.m. Eblacas then fled the scene in a car reported to have been stolen. Deputies believed Eblacas was meeting with her probation officer and she was later found in the parking lot of the DOC office. Eblacas initially followed the deputy’s instructions but later fled, initiating a chase that was called off at Bowdish Road and Sprague Avenue for public safety. However, Eblacas ended up crashing at the intersection and was arrested and booked into Spokane County Jail.

About Vehicle Accidents

While this particular incident contains a criminal element, it is important to note that accidents of other causes can also result in damage or injuries. 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, trees, and utility poles. 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. As can be seen in this case, even though no injuries were reported damage to fixed objects can result in long road closures.

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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