Whatcom County, Washington – Motorcyclist Dies in Crash at South Pass Road

Whatcom County, Washington (April 18, 2020) – A motorcyclist died in a crash that occurred on South Pass Road near Goodwin Road on Saturday afternoon. According to an article from KOMO News, the victim, identified as 19 year-old David P. Vetkov from Maple Falls, was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to information from the Washington State Patrol, troopers and medics responded to the scene around 4:05 p.m. From preliminary investigation, it was found that Vetkov was headed west on South Pass Road when he lost control of his vehicle, causing him to veer off the roadway and collide with a mailbox, a pole and a fence. Vetkov was reported to have been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and that drugs and alcohol are not considered a factor in the incident.

About Motorcycle Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. 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.

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