Everett, Washington – One Dead, Two Injured in Collision Involving Three Vehicles

Everett, Washington (December 21, 2019) – One pedestrian was killed and two people were injured in a crash involving a truck and two cars parked on the shoulder of southbound Interstate 5 near State Route 526 on early Saturday. One woman who was struck by the pickup truck was pronounced dead on the scene. Another woman was struck by debris in the crash and was taken to a hospital in Everett. A passenger in the truck was also injured and taken to the hospital. No word has been given regarding the conditions of the injured people.

According to the report, two women were standing outside of the parked cars just after 12:30 a.m. A pickup truck drifted towards the shoulder and struck a car and one of the victims. The impact caused the parked car to crash into the other, and it was here that the other victim was struck by debris. The passenger who sustained injuries was reported to not have been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The crash is under investigation.

About Pedestrian Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. 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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