Marblemount, Washington – One Dead, One Injured After Single Car Crash, Driver Suspected of DUI

Marblemount, Washington (June 3, 2019) – The passenger of a car was killed and the driver injured after the vehicle they were riding in crashed into a tree on State Route 20. The passenger, identified as Kaylynne P. Flett of Wellpinit, was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver, a 43-year-old man from Nespelem, has been taken to Skagit Valley Hospital for treatment. A child inside the car was uninjured in the accident.

The crash happened on early Monday morning. The response team arrived on the scene around 1:40 a.m. According to preliminary investigation, the vehicle was eastbound on State Route 20 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve, veered off the roadway and crashed into the tree. The State Patrol has said that drugs or alcohol were believed to be involved in the crash. The accident caused one lane of the highway to be blocked for investigation and cleanup, but has since been reopened. Charges are now pending against the driver.

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 at excessive speeds, 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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