April 16, 2012: In a one-car crash so violent it ripped a Jeep’s body from its chassis, you’d think no one could have survived. But apparently the driver did avoid being killed as his Jeep rolled over several times. Police had been alerted to a car driving erratically on Highway 16, near Gig Harbor. One such report came from a bar where the driver apparently had been drinking. (An empty beer can was also found at the scene.)
When they arrived at the scene, police could not find the driver, dead or alive. After searching, though, they found him—about a football field away! Amazingly, he was alive and conscious. They don’t know if he ejected before the crash, or how he survived. The extent of his injuries is also not known.
Although I’m concerned about this man, and hope he recovers quickly, I also pray that this will be a sobering wake-up call to him and to others who choose to drink and drive. I’m grateful he didn’t hurt or kill someone else, as is often the case.
Washington State has one of the worst records for alcohol-related car accident fatalities. The legislature recently increased the sentencing range for drivers convicted of DWI in fatality accidents. But it’s still too low, in my book. A drunk driver who kills someone can get 6-8 years. Excuse me? I recently read where a man charged with selling fake copies of Microsoft Office might get 20 years in jail. Something’s majorly wrong with this picture! We’re treating software piracy, which admittedly is serious, as a whole lot worse than killing someone?
Unfortunately, our society, especially here in Washington State, is not taking the steps needed to greatly reduce this public health menace. But you can take action if someone you know has been killed by a drunk driver, or you or someone you love has been injured because of a DWI crash, contact the law office of John Darrow and let him help you obtain appropriate compensation.
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