Lakewood, Washington – Two People Injured in Crash at I-5

Lakewood, Washington (November 18, 2019) – A major crash occurred on the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 after a suspect fleeing police chase crashed into the scene of a truck fire, damaging several emergency vehicles in the process. The driver and a passenger in the fleeing vehicle sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. According to the report no other serious injuries occurred in the incident.

The incident started when a semi truck on the Interstate 5 caught on fire just before 1 a.m. Personnel from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, and fire crews responded to the incident, causing a partial blockage of northbound Interstate 5.  Just before 4 a.m., a car which was fleeing from Thurston County deputies came upon the crash scene, crashing into several emergency vehicles in addition to one civilian car. The crash shut down all northbound lanes of the Interstate 5, leading to significant backups.

About Vehicle Accidents

While this particular incident contains a criminal element, car accidents of common cause can be just as dangerous. In 2017, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)  have reported a total of 120, 993 car accidents. Of those accidents, 525 were fatal and 34, 311 were possible or suspected of injuries. There are several types of collision that may happen, such as side collision, rollover collision, and head-on collision. Of the types of car accidents, head-on collisions are considered the most dangerous due to the circumstances – two cars are heading towards each other, with a great amount of force being experienced by all parties when the impact happens. While only 2% of car accidents are head-on collisions, they account for more than 10% of car-accident related injuries. These injuries are quite dangerous as most of them are head, spine or neck-related, including spinal injuries, brain injuries, paralysis, broken bones, and whiplash. Similarly, victims of side collisions and rollover collisions also suffer may also suffer head and neck injuries, though the risk is lower in these types of collisions. In rollover collisions, the car will come to rest on its side or roof, resulting in a dangerous situation which passengers might need to be extricated from. In side collisions, the greatest risk comes to the passenger on the particular side that received the impact. No matter the type of accident, all crashes are bound to cause a dreadful situation for all involved.

We urge all drivers to be careful while behind the wheel. When in a location where hazards such as poor illumination, rough roads or construction materials are present, be especially cautious. By doing this, we can ensure our safety as well as the safety of others in the nearby area.

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