Drugs Suspected in Head-On Collision, 3 Men Dead, 3 Women Suffer Serious Personal Injuries
Car accidents, head-on collision, personal injury, Washington car accident attorneys, Washington car accident lawyer, Wrongful Death
September 6th, 2010: Law Blogger
Driving under the influence (DUI) has been a major focus by law enforcement over this labor day weekend. Over the last year it is just one of the campaigns that include the “Click-it or Ticket” seat belt initiative and the new distracted driving laws that took effect in June of this year. All three of those laws were violated in a head-on collision this weekend the ended up ruining 6 lives.
The Washington State Patrol says four friendswere in a Chevrolet Blazer traveling northbound on SR20 just south of Monkey Hill Road. Two women were in front and two men were in back. Only the right rear passenger was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Troopers say that the driver was taking off a sweater or sweatshirt while the right front female passenger was holding the steering wheel. Apparently the vehicle crossed over the center line, they both overreacted, jerked the wheel, went over to the right, then they overreacted again to compensate, steered back to the left oncoming lane. By that time they totally lost control of the vehicle and slammed head-on into a Subaru.
The Blazer then proceeded to roll several times ejecting the driver and male and female passengers, killing the male, 26-year-old Francis Malloy, instantly and severely injuring the two women. The other male passenger, 25-year-old Jacob Quistorf, despite being seatbelted, also died in the collision. All of the occupants were from Whidbey Island.
The Subaru was demolished, causing the wrongful death of 33-year-old Brian R. Wood from Vancouver, BC, and causing serious personal injuries to his wife Erin, who is 6 months pregnant.
Brian R. Wood is somewhat famous in online gaming circles as he was the lead designer of the popular WWII strategy game Company of Heroes. This car accident has left a large portion of the online community in mourning.
All three women were taken to the hospital where there has yet to be an update as to their conditions. It is currently unknown if the Erin Wood’s baby was effected by the impact.
Detectives on Whidbey Island say they believe drugs played a role in an accident. The two women in the front seat are under the supervision of police during their stay in the hospital. Once they are released, they will be booked on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
Both of the women could be seeing very long prison sentences for 3 counts of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault each. That doesn’t include the DUI and distracted driving charges that seem minor at this point. We are saddened to see so many lives just thrown away for an irresponsible joyride.
Please think before you get behind the wheel and if anything distracts you from the act of driving responsibly, pull off the road until you are prepared to commit your full attention to getting you and your passengers to your destination safely.
If you or a loved one are injured or killed in a DUI wreck, it is important that you find legal council as soon as possible to help you through the legal components of the tragedy. Call the DUI victims lawyers at Phillips Webster for a consultation on your legal rights.
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