Hoquiam, Washington – Man Getting Out of Vehicle Injured After Getting Struck by Truck

Hoquiam, Washington (December 18, 2019) – A man was injured after getting struck by a pickup truck that had crashed into a parking strip at the 2700 block of Sumner Avenue. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Grays Harbor Community Hospital. The causing driver was not reported to be injured in the accident and has been taken into custody following the accident.

According to the report from the Hoquiam Police Department, the causing vehicle had veered into the south parking strip and collided with the three vehicles parked there. The victim had just gotten out of one of the parked vehicles before the collision and was also struck by the truck. The causing driver was taken into custody for investigation of driving with a suspended license, DUI and possession of a controlled substance. The suspect has been booked into Hoquiam jail.

About Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, as shown in this case, pedestrians are at also risk while on the streets, with the National Center for Health Statistics estimating 7, 450  pedestrian deaths in 2017. Pedestrian accidents can fall under traffic or non-traffic depending on the location where they were struck. Traffic incidents happen on public roads, while non-traffic incidents occur on non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots and other private property. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban settings, on urban roads (72%) versus on intersections (18%), and mostly at night. Much like motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents can happen simply because people are not as visible as other vehicles, a problem which is worse during night. And in an event of a car crash, similar to motorcycle drivers and passengers, the risk to pedestrians are greater than those inside a car, with fatality rate being 1.5 times greater than any car passenger.When it comes to risk, older adults, children, and alcohol-impaired drivers or pedestrians are at most risk in pedestrian accidents. The risk is further heightened in a situation where a vehicle is at high speed. Lately, distractions also cause accidents not only for drivers, but also pedestrians, specifically those who are using their phones while crossing the road. We urge everyone to exercise area awareness at all times and to keep their attention on the road. Avoiding accidents not only prevents loss, damage, injuries and death to one’s self, but also on other people in the surroundings.

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