The Washington State Patrol (WSP) told reporters that following too close caused the May 6 Padden Parkway two-car crash.
Troopers arrived at the scene on Sunday morning after the crash. They learned that a 58-year-old man from Vancouver was traveling south on Highway 503 prior to the accident. As he turned onto Padden Parkway westbound, the vehicle ahead of him slowed down to manage the turn. The Vancouver driver wasn’t able to avoid the crash.
The inadequate following distance, WSP said, was to blame. Like many other accidents in Seattle and surrounding areas.
While neither of the drivers was injured, the passenger in the car that was rear-ended sustained wounds. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. Details about his condition were not revealed.
The driver who failed to slow down was cited for following too closely.
We are reporting on this accident to remind our readers that allowing enough distance between their cars and vehicles ahead helps to avoid accidents.
Do Not Tailgate: Avoid Car Accidents
The following distance must be much longer than a car length, experts say. Instead, drivers must travel two seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Under bad weather conditions, double the time.
This accident reminds us that avoidable mistakes such as this are putting lives in danger. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured in this particular crash. But similar accidents can lead to much more serious consequences.
We hope that the passenger injured in the Sunday two-car accident is recovering fully and quickly. And that other Washington drivers are doing their best to avoid this type of collision.
Contacting an attorney for help after an accident matters. Victims are often injured, and they must focus on recovering first. Having an attorney fighting for justice on their side will help them get the medical care they require to recover.
