All too often, we hear about an auto accident that results in serious injuries. In most of these cases, heroic Washington State Patrol troopers are called to the scene to try and help the victims and at times, those who are injured end up losing the battle for their lives. This time around, it was a WSP trooper who lost this battle after being injured in a serious accident on Tuesday night.
According to a series of news reports, the WSP officer was assisting a disabled motorist who had blocked an eastbound lane of Interstate 90 in Bellevue. As the trooper stood outside of his patrol car, trying to clear the vehicle precisely so that an accident could be avoided, a distracted driver crashed into him. Due to the impact of the crash, the patrol car’s rear was crushed. The vehicle was then pushed into the disabled vehicle, which in turn ended up striking the trooper and throwing him several feet away.
The 24-year-old who crashed into the patrol car said that while she noticed the patrol car lights, she hadn’t realized the vehicle was stopped. As she looked down to adjust her car’s dashboard controls, reports show, she ended up allowing the vehicle to crash into the patrol car.
The vehicle was going at a high rate of speed.
Officials said that distraction was the main factor behind this accident and used this tragic collision to remind others that even if they are not using phones, distraction can manifest itself in other ways.
In this case, the driver was distracted by her dashboard. A reality that impacts several others and that, as we have learned, may lead to a deadly accident.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s family in this time of pain. We wish they are obtaining all the support they require in this time of need.
