Hoquiam, Washington – Car Crashes Into Power Pole, Driver Arrested for DUI

Hoquiam, Washington (June 16, 2019) – A car crashed into several signs and a power pole on Sumner Avenue, near the Hoquiam’s Farmer Market. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident, and the driver was found standing beside the vehicle, though he claimed he was not the driver when questioned by police.

According to the Hoquiam Police Department, it appeared that the car did not turn when Sumner Avenue turned to Riverside Avenue, causing the car to strike the curb and several signs for the market, before crashing into a power pole. Officers also found a man standing beside the vehicle who claimed he was not involved in the crash, but from evidence at the scene, the man was implicated to be the driver and that he was under the influence of alcohol. The man refused to give an identification and gave a false name, which was eventually proved to be lies when officer arrested the man and found an ID and the car keys in his pocket. The driver has been booked into Hoquiam City Jail on charges of DUI and Making a False or Misleading Statement to a Public Official.

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, trees, and similar to this case, 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.

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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