Granger, Washington – Firefighter Hospitalized after Getting Struck by Vehicle in Hit-and-Run

Granger, Washington (December 1, 2019) – Update: A firefighter was hospitalized after a vehicle struck them on the scene of a crash on Interstate 82 near Granger on Sunday morning. The patient, identified as Terry Carter from Granger, was taken to Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries. In an update, it was reported that Carter had back pain and a possible concussion, but it has been confirmed his injuries were not severe.

According to the report, firefighters were on the scene of another crash on the highway on Sunday morning. Around 6:22 a.m., a vehicle lost control and struck Carter, with troopers reporting that the driver briefly stopped before taking off from the scene. From a report that came out on December 4, the responsible driver has turned himself in to Sunnyside Police.

About Pedestrian Accidents

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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