I-5 Semi-Truck Rollover Accident Near Slater Road Snarls Northbound Traffic
After reports of a semi-truck with 53-foot trailer driving ‘erratically’ northbound on the I-5 about 6:20 a.m. this morning, it rolled over on its side near the Slater Road exit. The rollover accident snarled traffic for four miles for hours with the truck almost fully blocking both lanes as emergency crews responded to the scene.
Rollover accident near I-5 Slater Road exit
State troopers and medics arrived at the scene about 6:30 a.m. According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Heather Axtman, the driver of the truck – which was transporting vegetables – was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence after it was determined that his injuries were not life-threatening. Before the crash the truck was said to have been crossing lanes and driving on the shoulder by witnesses who called in to report what they had seen.
At 9 a.m. traffic was at a stand-still and the truck was still on its side as tow-truck operators worked to upright the vehicle. Despite efforts by State Patrol to setup a northbound traffic detour, Washington State Department of Transportation cameras showed traffic backed up past the Bellingham Airport almost to West Bakerview Road.
Top Rollover Accident causes
Supported by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are six main factors that contribute to the risk of vehicle rollover accidents.
Type of vehicle
While any type of vehicle could be part of a vehicle rollover, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans are at increased risk because of their height and shape; they are taller and narrower than most other types of vehicles. The higher center of gravity that accompanies the height and shape puts these drivers and passengers at increased risk for a rollover accident if they are involved in a single-vehicle crash.
High speed
Approximately 40 percent of fatal rollover car accidents involve excessive speeding. Fatal rollover car crashes more often involve speeding than other types of fatal car accidents. Of particular note is that almost 75 percent of fatal rollovers took place on roadways with a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or higher.
Driving while intoxicated
Almost half of all fatal rollover crashes involve a drunk driver. Even a slight impairment can be enough to reduce muscle coordination and reflexes and blur vision, which increases the chance of losing control of your vehicle.
Rural roads
Roads with clear divisions and barriers help to decrease the risk of rollover accidents but rural roads tend not to have these safety measures. As a result, almost 75 percent of fatal rollovers happen on rural roads and in rural areas with a typically posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour or higher.
Routine driving
NHTSA data suggests that more than 90 percent of fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes involved a driver doing routine driving maneuvers like driving straight ahead and taking a curve or turn in the road. From this finding we may be able to infer that driver behavior such as distracted or impaired driving, type of vehicle and road conditions play the biggest roles in the risk of rollover accidents.
Single-car crashes
According to NHTSA data, almost 85 percent of all rollover accident deaths are the direct result of single-vehicle crashes. What this means is that the vast majority of rollover accidents only involve one vehicle.
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