ELLENSBURG, Washington—A 65-year-old California woman has died from injuries resulting from an accident with a tractor-trailer at the Flying J station at 1307 North Dolarway.
Dashcam footage of the accident shows the woman walking through the station parking lot before reportedly being run over by a semi-truck.
EMS transported the woman to a local hospital via helicopter, where she later passed away from her injuries. No charges have been reported, and the Ellensburg Police and Kittitas County Sheriff are continuing investigations.
No further information was immediately available.
Commentary on the fatal Ellensburg truck-stop accident
This is an absolutely horrific tragedy, and our thoughts and most heartfelt condolences go to the victim’s loved ones. Coping with the death of a loved one is never easy, but a case like this is simply unimaginable. No family should have to navigate the aftermath of such a senseless act of negligence alone, and our firm has ample experience getting families much-needed relief in circumstances like this.
The facts here point to neglect on the part of at least one, if not several, individuals. This incident occurred in a parking lot, where drivers should be aware of passing pedestrians. Truckers should also be operating their vehicles at dramatically reduced speeds, allowing them to come to a stop at a moment’s notice. Unfortunately, we often see drivers of tractor-trailers disregarding these considerations by engaging in distracted driving, driving above posted speeds, or failing to keep their vehicles in areas designated for them. If it is found that the driver here neglected his duty to safely operate his vehicle in any way, the victim’s family may be able to recover for such negligence.
Alternatively, we often see cases where accidents occur at truck stops because the station lacked proper warning signs and/or safety walks. Tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles should always be directed to separate areas of the parking lot, precisely because it can be difficult for truck drivers to see pedestrians while operating such large vehicles. If an investigation reveals that the operators of the truck stop failed to heed rules and regulations governing safety precautions such as these, the victim’s family may be able to recover against Flying J for its negligence.
We must wait for the results of all investigations, but it is difficult to imagine a tragedy like this happening without severe negligence on the part of the driver or the station. Our firm is always prepared to conduct our own exhaustive investigation and fight for every bit of relief possible for our clients. Our deepest sympathies go to the victim’s loved ones at this time.
