Seattle, Washington – Car Collision Involves Case of Vehicular Assault when RV Strikes Man

Seattle, Washington  (November 16, 2019) – A minor car collision that involved a car and an RV on the intersection of Northwest 54th Street and 6th Avenue Northwest turned into a case of vehicular assault when the RV struck the owner of the car. The victim, Bob Ramstad, escaped the incident with minor injuries of scrapes and bruises. No other injuries were involved in the incident.

The incident started when the RV struck the Ramstads’ car that had been parked on the residential street. As the RV driver would not give any proof of identity or insurance, Ramstads called 911. The responding officers were diverted en route by two other incidents, causing the Ramstads to wait for around 90 minutes. Around this time the RV started to move and then accelerated, and Bob Ramstad jumped to avoid the vehicle. He ended up on the hood of the car while the vehicle went for around 30 yards before he managed to get clear. The Seattle Police are currently investigating the case as vehicular assault and hit-and-run, and encourages anyone with information on the case to call them.

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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