Ridgefield, Washington – Car Driver Injured After Colliding with Light Pole at I-5

Ridgefield, Washington (November 11, 2019) – A car driver sustained a broken neck after crashing into a light pole at the weight station off northbound Interstate 5, north of the exit to Pioneer Street. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and no other injuries were reported in the incident.

According to the report from the Washington State Patrol, the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, resulting in the crash. Troopers responded to the scene around 3:45 a.m. on Monday morning. The weight station was closed at the time as it was still new and had not been reopened. The driver has been cited for 2nd degree negligent driving.

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