Stanwood, Washington – Two People Dead Following Car-Tree Collision

Stanwood, Washington (April 10, 2020) – Two people died following a car-tree collision that occurred on the 29200 block of 80th Avenue Northwest on Friday afternoon. According to an article from KOMO News, a female occupant from the car was pronounced dead at the scene. A male occupant was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to a Mount Vernon hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. According to the updated article from KOMO News the male occupant later admitted to having drunk four beers before driving, and the driver is now being held in Snohomish County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide.

According to information from Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, desputies and medics responded to the scene around 3:40 p.m. Preliminary investigation found that the driver had lost control and veered off the roadway, resulting in the crash. However, from the updated information the driver claimed to have swerved to avoid a small animal in the roadway. It is now believed that speed and alcohol impairment caused the crash.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victims. Unfortunately, this is not the only time a car crash has resulted in fatalities. 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, damage to fixed objects can also 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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