Captain Jason Berry
Government and Media Relations
(360) 596-4010 – office
(360) 596-4015 – fax
http://www.wsp.wa.gov
*** For Immediate Release***
Date:
December 30, 2010
Contact:
Julie Startup
Phone:
(425) 766-0812
E-mail:
Julie.Startup@wsp.wa.gov
Two Trooper Vehicles Struck in Minutes on State Route 167
On December 29th just after 10 pm two separate patrol car collisions occurred on a short stretch of northbound State Route 167 just south of 212th St.
A trooper was traveling in the HOV lane on his way to a reported collision when a blue Chevrolet Aveo, traveling in the lane to the right of the patrol car, rotated across the HOV lane and directly into the path of the trooper. The Aveo driver, a 32 year old Renton man, was seriously injured. The trooper received minor injuries and was momentarily trapped in his patrol car which came to rest against the left barrier.
Just moments later a trooper approaching the scene in the HOV lane was involved in a minor collision when his vehicle was struck by a blue Lincoln passenger car. The Lincoln was struck on the right side by a semi truck which forced it to the left, striking the patrol car in the HOV lane. The semi truck did not stop following the collision. There were no injuries reported in this collision.
These collisions are still under investigation but speed too fast for conditions is believed to be a factor in both.
Although the roadway conditions were less than ideal with ice in places, these collisions were not caused by the weather. Many times speed too fast for conditions, vehicle defects and/or operator error are the actual cause of crashes that occur in poor weather conditions.