Aberdeen, Washington – Driver Dead in Single-Vehicle Crash in School Parking Lot

Aberdeen, Washington (December 9, 2019) – A man died in a single-vehicle crash that ended up in the parking lot of the Robert Gray Elementary School on Monday night. The driver, reported to be a 37 year-old man from Olympia, was thrown from the vehicle in the crash and sustained fatal injuries. No other occupants were found in the vehicle.

According to the report, the crash occurred around 8:45 p.m. From the information received from witnesses and evidence at the scene, the man had been speeding down Third Avenue and failed to stop at the B Street stop sign, causing him to go across B Street and into the parking lot. Here, the car crashed into the boulders which separated B Street and the lower part of the parking lot, causing the vehicle to go airborne and the driver to be thrown off. While the scene was initially believed to be a hit-an-run due to the empty vehicle, the driver was found at the center of the lot. Investigation is ongoing, but drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the crash.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion to the friends and loved ones of the victim. Unfortunately, this is not the only time a car accident has resulted in a fatality. 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 utility poles, trees, and similar to this case, barriers. 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.

[cta]