Olympia, Washington – Woman Dies from Injuries Sustained in Car Crash

Olympia, Washington  (September 9, 2019) – A woman died from injuries sustained in a car crash on Monday evening. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Emily Lipke on Tuesday. She had been taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but died of multiple blunt force injuries. According to the report, an infant that was also in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and has been taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. on Monday. Lipke drove off the road, causing her vehicle to crash into hit a mailbox and eventually crash into a tree. The cause of the accident has not been determined, but an earlier report has stated that speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion to the friends and loved ones of the victim. Unfortunately, this is not the only case of a fatal car accident. 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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