Benton City, Washington – One Dead, One Seriously In Single-Vehicle Rollover Crash

Benton City, Washington (December 20, 2019) – One person and another was seriously injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on the westbound lanes of Interstate 82 on Friday afternoon. The victim, identified as Levi Small, died at the scene. The driver, Timothy Small, was seriously injured in the crash and taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center for treatment.

According to the information from the Washington State Patrol, the car was heading east on the highway. One mile east of Benton City, the car went off the roadway and into the median, rolling over several times in the process. The car eventually ended up in the westbound lanes. Both men were reported to be wearing their seat belts at the time of the accident. It ha snot yet been determined if drugs or alcohol are a factor in the crash. The accident caused the westbound lanes to be blocked for around two hours.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. Unfortunately, car accidents are common and may happen more frequently than you think. In 2017, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)  have reported a total of 120, 993 car accidents. Of those accidents, 525 were fatal ad 34, 311 were possible or suspected of injuries. This type of accident where the vehicle has landed on the side or top can be classified under rollover accident, a hazardous situation in which victims may get trapped inside the car. Sometimes, outside help is needed to safely get trapped occupants out of the car. This type of accident usually happens after trying to turn on high speeds. Cars that are more susceptible to rollover accidents are lighter cars with a high gravity center, though it should be noted any car can roll over given the circumstance. In a rollover crash, injuries that can be expected are broken wrists, whiplash among other neck-related injuries, as well as head and spinal injuries. Wearing a seat belt helps mitigate possible injuries in this particular type of incident, and also minimizes the chances of being flung from the vehicle when it flips over.

As always, we urge all drivers to practice caution while out on the streets. Be specially if the road is lacking sufficient illumination. It would also help to identify busy roads ad try to avoid being in their proximity to minimize any risk of a vehicle accident. Any mistake can lead to injuries and damage not only to your person, but on other people as well.

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