Vancouver, Washington – One Person Dies from Injuries Sustained in Crash at Southeast 164th Avenue

Vancouver, Washington (April 24, 2020) – One person died from injuries sustained in a crash on the 500 block of Southeast 164th Avenue on Friday. According to the article from The Columbian, a female passenger from the involved vehicle was transported to an area hospital for treatment, but she later died. The victim has not yet been identified. The driver, Shawn M. Nelson, has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.

According to information from the Vancouver Police Department, officers were dispatched to the scene around 7:30 p.m. for an incident reported as a vehicle crash into concrete barrier. The circumstances of the crash have not yet been reported, and the crash remains under investigation.

About Vehicle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. Unfortunately, this is not the only time a car crash has resulted in fatalities. 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 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. As can be seen in this case, damage to fixed objects can also result in long road closures.

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.

[cta]