According to authorities, a vehicle was traveling east in the westbound lanes of SR 18 in the No.2 lane when it collided head-on with an oncoming westbound vehicle
King County, WA– Two drivers were injured in a collision involving a wrong-way driver in King County early Saturday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol.
At about 1:27 a.m. January 17, authorities responded to reports of a collision on State Route 18 near milepost 6.4.
According to authorities, a vehicle was traveling east in the westbound lanes of SR 18 in the No.2 lane when it collided head-on with an oncoming westbound vehicle.
The Washington State Patrol and emergency personnel responded to the scene and attended to the involved parties.
One of the motorists was transported to Harborview Medical Center while the other driver was treated at the scene. The condition of the injured drivers was not specified. Authorities said one of the drivers was not belted at the time of the collision.
The roadway was shut down for over four hours as crews investigated and cleared the scene.
According to WSP, one of the drivers was suspected to have been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The driver was arrested on charges of vehicular assault.
The Washington State Patrol is still conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Fatalities due to traffic colisions in King County avaraged 140 in the years between 2021 and 2023. The numbers have been constantly increasing yearly until the peak in 2023, when the county recorded 150. Most fatal accidents occurred on state routes, especially State Route 522 and I-5, which are regarded as the deadliest in King County. This has majorly been attributed to numerous curved sections and high traffic volume that cause drivers to drift into oncoming lanes. According to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) data, state routes contributed to 28% of the fatalities recorded statewide in 2023. Other driver errors including speed, distracted driving, and drinking under the influence also continue to play a key role in these accidents, stressing the need for more sensitization to ensure drivers adhere to the set laws and keep road users safe.
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