Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov
*** For Immediate Release***
Date:
June 29, 2010
Contact:
Trooper Cliff Pratt
Phone:
(425) 766-0812
E-mail:
Clifford.Pratt@wsp.wa.gov
Drowsy Driving Suspected Cause in Double Fatality on Interstate 90
NORTH BEND, WA- Just after 6:45am on June 29, 2010 the Washington State Patrol received several 911 calls reporting a serious collision that had occurred westbound on Interstate 90 at mile post 34 near North Bend. First arriving Troopers and Eastside Fire personnel reported that the collision had instantly caused the deaths of two of the five occupants of the 2005 Dodge Neon.
Currently the investigation shows that the carload of family and friends had been camping in Eastern Washington for the weekend and were on their way home when driver of the vehicle, 30 year old Sean P. Mitchell from Tacoma, had fallen asleep at the wheel and drifted the vehicle off the left side of the interstate crossing over DOT added rumble strips and struck the guardrail and cement bridge railing without slowing down.
The collision ripped through the drivers side of the vehicle instantly killing Sean and his wife, 26 year old Lindsey M. Mitchell who was seated in the back seat behind her husband. Three other males that were also in the vehicle suffered minor to serious injuries; rear seat passenger, 4 year old Cameron Mitchell (son of Sean and Lindsey) received only minor injuries having been properly secured in a child booster seat. Seat belted right front passenger, 20 year old Rick Rigney received minor injuries and seat belted center rear passenger, 15 year old Austin Waage received moderate to severe femur and internal injuries. All surviving passengers were transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.
Recommendations for avoiding driving while drowsy:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says helpful behaviors include (1) planning to get sufficient sleep, (2) not drinking even small amounts of alcohol when sleepy, and (3) limiting driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
As soon as a driver becomes sleepy, the key behavioral step is to stop driving-for example, letting a passenger drive or stopping to sleep before continuing a trip. Two remedial actions can make a short-term difference in driving alertness: taking a short nap (about 15 to 20 minutes) and consuming caffeine equivalent to two cups of coffee.
The effectiveness of any other steps to improve alertness when sleepy, such as opening a window or listening to the radio, has not been demonstrated.
Contact King County Medical Examiners Officer for further on next of kin.
