Puyallup, Washington – Two People Injured After Car Collides with Tree on 9th Street Southwest

Puyallup, Washington (February 9, 2020) – Two people were injured in a crash on the 3500 block of 9th Street Southwest on early Sunday morning. According to the report from KIRO7 News, one man was ejected in the crash and sustained life-threatening injuries. He was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment. A passenger was also injured and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment of injuries that were not as serious.

According to information from the Puyallup Police Department, the incident occurred around 2:50 a.m. Witnesses stated that the involved vehicle was heading north on the road at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then struck a tree, then rolled and ended back up on its wheels. The ejected victim was found 20 yards away from the vehicle. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, but police have stated that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

About Vehicle Accidents

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, utility poles, and similar to this case, trees. 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.

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