Purdy, Washington – One Person Killed, One Injured in Crash at State Route 302

Purdy, Washington (May 2, 2020) – One person was killed and another injured in a car crash that occurred on State Route 302 on early Saturday morning. According to an article from KOMO News, the driver, identified as 39 year-old Jesse M. Kupietz from Gig Harbor, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, a 38 year-old man from Bremerton, was injured and treated at the scene. There were no mentions of the passenger requiring a transport to the hospital for treatment. Both occupants of the truck were reported to have not been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

According to information from the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred around 11 miles west of Purdy. Troopers and medics responded to the scene of the crash around 5:10 a.m and found a wrecked Dodge Dakota pickup. According to preliminary investigation, the vehicle was traveling east when it veered off the roadway to the right, causing the pickup to collide with the guardrail, spin off the roadway and crash into several trees.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. Unfortunately, this is not the only time a car crash has resulted in fatalities. 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 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. As can be seen in this case, damage to fixed objects can also result in long road closures.

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.

[cta]