Auto Accident Saves Lives | Seattle Car Wreck Lawyer

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Though the vast majority of auto accidents are caused by inattentive or reckless drivers there are instances where an auto accident is due to a medical condition, or other complication out of the control of the driver. Being a Seattle car accident attorney and Bellevue Personal Injury Lawyer I know how scary it can be to witness an erratic and dangerous driver near you on the road, but for one Kent man his compassion for others on the road outweighed his fear of being hit.

While driving on Highway 167 close to the merger to Interstate 405, Duane Innes, witnessed a pickup truck drifting across lanes. The driver almost struck Innes, so he quickly swerved to the emergency shoulder to avoid being sideswiped. Innes then sped up and passed the erratic driver, but looking in his rear-view mirror he noticed the driver of the truck was hunched over the steering wheel, seemingly unconscious. As a busy intersection was quickly approaching Innes quickly rationalized the only way to get the truck to safely stop before it hit someone was to match the trucks speed and let it hit Innes van to bring it safely to a stop.

The 80-year-old driver of the truck, Bill Pace, had unknowingly had a heart attack a few days prior which had left his blood circulation in poor condition- causing him to pass out behind the wheel with his foot on the accelerator. Pace’s insurance company covered the damage to the vehicles as well as sent a letter of appreciation to Innes for his courageous efforts.

What could have been a fatal auto accident was stopped by one man thinking of a solution and acting upon it. While most drivers would have simply yelled some obscenities and sped up- Innes took the time to assess the situation and ended up saving some lives.