Oakley Driver Falls Asleep and Crashes into Tree
On Sunday morning, January 21, 2018, a driver in Oakley was involved in a one-car rollover accident. Thankfully, his injuries were minor and did not require hospitalization. To find out more, continue reading below.
Rollover Car Accident on Empire Avenue
According to officials from the Oakley Police Department, shortly after 8:00 a.m., the driver appeared to be heading northward on Empire Avenue, coming up on Main Street. As the driver started to doze off, his black two-door coupe swerved right, going outside of the white lines, before hitting a tree and overturning. The black car, lying upside down on its roof, stopped on Empire Avenue.
The driver made it safely out of the car wreck and was evaluated by local paramedics who had responded to the incident. He was deemed to not need further treatment and was released at the scene. At the time, he was the sole occupant of his vehicle. No one else was harmed in this crash.
Emergency responders included the Oakley Police Department, paramedics, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Engines #52 and #53, and ECCFPD Battalion Chief Jeff Burris. The accident was called in around 8:20 a.m. Initially, an air ambulance was to arrive at the scene, but it was canceled after finding out that the driver’s wounds were minor. The northbound traffic lanes along Empire Avenue were temporarily blocked during police operations.
The Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. While you may not consider the dangers of this behavior when you’re behind the wheel, it can often result in tragic, life-threatening consequences.
According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of drivers in America have driven while they felt sleepy. Additionally, 37% actually admit to falling asleep behind the wheel in the last year. Here are some general facts about drowsy driving:
- More than half (55%) of the drowsy driving-related accidents involve drivers who are 24 years old or younger
- Males are 60% more likely to be involved in a drowsy driving-related auto accident
- Drowsy drivers make up an estimated 6% of all accidents and 21% of all fatal accidents
- If you are driving on 6 hours of sleep or less, your risk of crashing is tripled
- You are at increased risk of crashing if you are under the influence of sedatives and/or cold medicine
Now that we know some of the risk factors for drowsy driving, we can discuss some of the safe driving habits that have been promoted through the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project:
- Make it a priority to get a total 7-9 hours of sleep per night
- Refuse to drive when you are sleep-deprived
- Recognize the physical and mental symptoms of drowsiness
- Pull off the road to a safe location when you feel drowsy
Other Posts by Ed Smith, a Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyer in Oakley:
- Oakley Resident Killed in Head-On Collision
- Motorcyclist Hits Pedestrian in Oakley
- Oakley Man Identified After a Fatal House Fire
Oakley Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, an Oakley Personal Injury Lawyer. You may be entitled to legal compensation if you or someone you hold dear has suffered any injury because of a negligent party. Reach me by calling (925)-428-5220 or my toll-free number (800)-404-5400 for friendly, free advice. If you would like to speak online, I can be contacted through the website I founded, autoaccident.com.
I have three decades of experience working on wrongful death and personal injury claims.
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If you would like to see more, please take the time to review my past verdicts and settlements.
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Image Attribution: Author Benjamin Child – Unsplash.
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