Teenager Killed When Truck Overturns
On the morning of Monday, August 23, 2021, an 18-year-old resident of Puyallup, Washington, was killed when his Chevy Silverado pickup truck overturned on Interstate 5. Officers from the Yreka CHP officer attended the scene.
Details of the Deadly Accident
The crash occurred on I-5 just north of Louie Road. Results of the investigation showed that the driver had been traveling in the southbound left lane when, for unknown reasons, he allowed the Chevy pickup to veer into the median. He attempted to correct his course by steering toward the right but ultimately lost control of the vehicle, and it overturned, crashing into the median.
First Responder Efforts
Officers from the Yreka Area office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were dispatched to the scene at approximately 6:30 a.m. Calls to 911 had reported an overturned vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located the 18-year-old driver. CPR efforts were initiated but, sadly, the young man perished at the scene. According to authorities, he had not been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the incident and had been ejected from his vehicle. He was the sole occupant of the Chevy Silverado.
Statement From the Yreka CHP
It is always a tragedy when such a young life is lost. The question of whether the death could have possibly been prevented adds to the sadness. The Yreka Area CHP office issued a statement to remind motorists to always buckle up when driving on area highways and roads. The statement referenced the fact that a number of fatal traffic accidents have occurred this year in the Yreka area that involved unrestrained vehicle occupants.
The Importance of Buckling Up
According to data from the National Traffic Highways Safety Administration (NHTSA), as soon as you fasten your seatbelt when driving or riding in the front seat of a vehicle, you slash your risk of suffering a fatal injury in a collision by close to half. That is a huge return on the investment of the seconds it takes to buckle up. In 2016, close to 15,000 American lives were saved by the use of seatbelts. If everyone made the choice to buckle up that year, close to 2,500 additional lives would have been saved.
Simply using your seatbelt greatly increases your odds of surviving a serious crash. Seat belts also increase the effectiveness of the other safety features within the vehicle – in particular, the airbags. In fact, unrestrained vehicle occupants can be seriously injured or killed if the airbags deploy. The mechanisms are designed to work together to keep you safe.
Teens and Seat Belt Use
Research conducted by the NHTSA revealed that as children grow up, they tend to be less likely to want to wear a seat belt. That is why it is important for parents to hammer home the message that seat belt use is not optional – they must be worn at all times while traveling in a vehicle. This helps the idea to become second nature, and a lifesaving lesson they will always remember.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is one of the many seat belt reminder videos created by the NHTSA.
Yreka Personal Injury Lawyer
Thanks for visiting our legal blog. We are saddened to report on this loss of a young life. I’m Ed Smith, a Yreka personal injury lawyer. There are a number of dangers on Northern California highways and roads. Driver negligence is the cause of most traffic accidents. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car crash caused by the carelessness or recklessness of another, our compassionate injury lawyers are available to assist you. For free and friendly case advice, do not hesitate – call us at (530) 392-9400. For those calling from outside the local area code, we provide a toll-free number: (800) 404-4500. You may also send your inquiry via our online form.
Photo: Pixabay
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