Head On Crash Leads to Recommended Vehicular Assault Charge
A recent head on crash injury in Whatcom County has led to a recommendation for a vehicular assault charge.
Head On Crash Leads to Recommended Vehicular Assault Charge
As reported by whatcom-news.com, a head-on crash occurred in the Marietta area at the intersection of Bancroft Road and Country Lane about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, October 15. According to Washington State Patrol troopers, 19-year-old Lea Serena-Gole was impaired while driving a 2007 Toyota RAV4 SUV south on Bancroft Road in the Marietta area. She failed to negotiate a curve in the road, causing her to cross over the center line and crash head-on into a 2013 Jeep Wrangler going north. Both the 26-year-old Bellingham woman who was driving the Jeep and Serena-Gole suffered non-life-threatening injuries but only the driver of the Jeep was transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. Both vehicles were deemed totaled and towed from the scene.
According to a news article on kgmi.com, the Washington State Patrol is recommending a charge of vehicular assault against Lea Serena-Gole. She was transported to and booked into Whatcom County Jail after the accident.
What is vehicular assault?
In many states, vehicular assault is defined as driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing serious bodily injury to another person. In Washington State, RCW 46.61.522 states:
(1) A person is guilty of vehicular assault if he or she operates or drives any vehicle:
(a) In a reckless manner and causes substantial bodily harm to another; or
(b) While under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, as defined by RCW 46.61.502, and causes substantial bodily harm to another; or
(c) With disregard for the safety of others and causing substantial bodily harm to another.
(2) Vehicular assault is a class B felony punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(3) As used in this section, “substantial bodily harm” has the same meaning as in RCW 9A.04.110.
What is a head-on collision?
One of the scariest types of car crashes a person can be involved in is a head-on accident. This type of collision happens when the front-end of two vehicles collide, most commonly on a road with no median to stop the vehicles from crossing lanes. According to data gathered by the Fatal Analysis Reporting System in 1999, 75 percent of head-on accidents occurred on un-divided two-lane roads.
Common causes of head-on collisions
- Rural roads, neighborhood roads, and other roads that lack a median meant to stop vehicles from crossing over into the opposing lane
- Poor construction-zone redirecting
- Distracted driving
- Failure to maintain vehicle control, failing to pass or overtake another vehicle
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or when fatigued
- Poor weather conditions such as ice
- Breaking traffic rules or ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Being unfamiliar with the area can cause confusion and lead to a driver turning down a one-way road and crashing head-on into another vehicle
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from an insurance company that is five to ten times larger 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!
