Distracted Driving Causes 5-Car Pileup on Highway 101

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Distracted driving accidents seem to be on the rise and even with the new cell phone laws that were put into effect last year Washington State continues to see a multitude of distracted driving accidents. As a Seattle personal injury attorney working at a Port Angeles auto accident law firm I help victims get back to their life after it is torn apart by a distracted driver.

Monday afternoon James Belardi, a 27-year-old man from Port Angeles, drifted across the center line on U.S. Highway 101 and crashed into three other vehicles. Belardi was driving a pickup truck when he first crossed the center line and crashed into 62-year-old Penelope Hansen and then a tractor trailer driven by 66-year-old David Dearing Jr. Unable to gain control of his pickup truck Belardi then crashed into 41-year-old Kathleen Faias before veering towards 57-year-old Albert Hills Jr., who was able to drive off the road and avoid the collision completely. Belardi’s pickup truck was destroyed, but luckily with all the damage caused the only person he injured was himself. Belardi suffered a broken arm and was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center where he is still recovering.

Washington State Patrol officers have reported that there was no indication that drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, which leaves distracted driving as the most likely cause. Whatever the cause, taking your eyes off the road for even a second can lead to a catastrophic auto accident. Belardi is very lucky that he didn’t injure anyone else, but a serious accident like this could have easily caused severe personal injuries or even the wrongful death of an innocent victim.