Kettle Falls, Washington – One Dead, One Seriously Injured in Motorcycle-Truck Collision

Kettle Falls, Washington (June 4, 2019) – A motorcyclist was killed and a truck driver was seriously injured in a collision on the intersection of U.S. Highway 395 and State Route 20 on Monday morning. The victim, identified as David P. Gilbride from New Westminster, British Columbia, was pronounced dead on the scene. The truck driver, Leland J. Williams of Spokane, sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

The circumstances leading up to the crash has not been detailed, but  it appears that Gilbride drove into the opposite lane and collided head-on with the dump truck around 9:20 a.m. It is still unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved in the case. The accident caused the road to be blocked for several hours.

About Motorcycle Accidents

Unfortunately, because of a motorcycle’s open nature, the risks of injuries are greater to a person on a motorcycle than a person in a car. Head injuries are common in motorcycle accidents of all kinds, as are limb injuries. Much like any other vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents can easily come out of lapse of attention and careless maneuvers.  It is important to always observe proper driving and consideration for other vehicles, something which all motorcycle drivers should keep in mind as 3/4 of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. This is most likely due to a motorcycle’s overall visibility being less than most other vehicles, which means drivers of other vehicles tend not to see motorcycles in time.  This visibility problem makes motorcycle rides at night especially risky. Additionally, the stationary objects most often struck off-road are trees, utility poles, and traffic barriers, and driving in poor visibility conditions such as nighttime and unfavorable weather can increase the risks of collision with one of the objects mentioned above.

While motorcycles are a much-depended means of transportation, drivers should consider factors such as speed, number of other vehicles on the road, the road conditions and weather to ensure their safety while out and about. Be especially cautious when driving at night, as with any other vehicle. Any mistakes in judgement can lead to accidents, injuries and damage not only to your person, but on other people as well.

[cta]