Tuesday, March 4th, a pickup truck crashed into a taxi minivan killing a pregnant woman and her baby. 34-year-old Shanna Huttenstine of Tacoma and her fiancé were riding in a taxicab minivan when pickup truck driver Anderson Hamilton crashed into them head-on. The pickup truck was heading north on Highway 167 when he crossed into the southbound lane and into the oncoming taxi. While the taxi driver swerved to avoid the pickup, it was too late and they collided in a glancing head-on crash.
Sadly, Shanna Huttenstine was killed, as was her 12-week fetus. Her fiancé and taxi driver were also injured and the taxi driver is in critical condition at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found injection needles and marijuana in the driver’s pockets. He refused a field sobriety test, but Washington State troopers believe that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the fatal crash. Toxicology reports are pending. Currently, Hamilton is being held on $500,000 bail and facing charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
Drugged driving is a serious issue in Washington and throughout the United States. Drivers who drive impaired put themselves and everyone around them at risk. Drugs slow reaction time down and make it difficult for drivers to make critical decisions during emergencies. They may mistakenly apply the gas instead of the brakes, fail to notice a stop sign, or fail to comprehend changes in traffic patterns.
If a drunk driver or someone who is under the influence of drugs injures you or someone you love, it is important that you seek legal counsel immediately. Your attorney will need to work closely with police officials, accident recreation experts, medical professionals, and forensic experts to build a case designed to obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Drivers who choose to drive under the influence of drugs are negligent and should be held accountable for their negligence. At the Phillips Law Firm, we fight aggressively for our clients and to ensure that they are not taken advantage of during this difficult time. We fight for you—so you can focus on your recovery.
