Federal Way, Washington – Driver Hospitalized After Crashing into Tree at South 320th Street

Federal Way, Washington (October 26, 2019) – A driver was taken to the hospital following a car crash on South 320th Street east of the Interstate 5 ramps. The collision caused the driver to be trapped within his vehicle, and rescue crews used the Jaws of Life to remove the roof and rescue the driver. The driver was taken to a local hospital following the accident, but the extent of his injuries has not been reported.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. The car struck the tree, with the impact causing pieces of the vehicle to be flung over 50 feet away. The cause and circumstances of the crash has not been reported.

About Vehicle Accidents

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, utility poles, and similar to this case, trees. 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.

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.

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