Bellingham Woman Charged with Vehicular Assault After Causing Head-On Crash near Lake Padden
A two-car, head-on crash near Bellingham’s Lake Padden on the evening of Monday, July 23rd sent both drivers to St. Joseph’s Hospital with injuries. The causes of the accident have been ruled alcohol and reckless driving; and led to a charge of vehicular assault.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) head-on crash report
At 7:58 p.m. on July 23, 2018, 19-year old Selena L. Pool of Bellingham, WA tried to turn left onto southbound Samish Way in her white 1999 Volkswagen Jetta. Her car crashed head-on into a red 2000 Ford Ranger driven by 60-year old David E. Evans, which was heading northbound on Samish Way at the time.
According to WSP, Pool was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was later listed in satisfactory condition. She has been charged with vehicular assault.
What is reckless driving?
A person may be charged with reckless driving when it is determined that they were driving with willful disregard for the rules of the road and the safety of others or their property. Examples of reckless driving include:
- Driving well over the speed limit
- Street racing
- Distracted driving while talking or texting on a cell phone
- Running a red light or stop sign without stopping
- Evading police officers
- Driving with disregard to current road or weather conditions
- Failure to use turn signals when appropriate
Penalties for reckless driving vary from state to state but there are different levels of seriousness that can affect the penalties. For example, speeding excessively would carry a smaller penalty than speeding excessively and crashing into another person and causing injury. Penalties may include fines, jail time, prison time, probation and license suspension.
How can WA State reduce drunk driving car accidents? WA State MADD Rating
WA State has a MADD rating of 3.5/5. The state earned a point for each of the following categories: “No Refusal,” “License Revocation” and “All-Offender Ignition Interlock” laws. It earned a half point for its current child endangerment law.
In 2009 Washington State passed an all-offender ignition interlock law. Since then drunk driving deaths in the state have dropped 19 percent, although the state still suffered 161 deaths from drunk driving car accidents in 2016. That change in law improved the state’s MADD rating from 2.5/5 to 3.5 out of 5. To earn the remaining 1.5 points, the state would need to legalize sobriety checkpoints and ensure that they are implemented monthly (one point) and enact a law making child endangerment a felony (1/2 point). MADD also recommends that WA State begin advertising the all-offender ignition interlock law in twice yearly federally funded Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
We represent victims of DUI and Reckless Driving Crashes
If you or a loved one was injured because of the actions of a reckless or intoxicated driver seek the help of a car accident attorney.
Tario & Associates, P.S. has more than 35 years of experience representing victims of drunk driving and reckless driving car accidents. When you have been seriously injured through no fault of your own you can benefit from a legal advocate who will fight for the settlement you deserve. Free consultations and no up-front fees make hiring a car accident lawyer the right choice for many victims.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an injury as a result of an accident or error caused by the negligence of another, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
