Published: Thursday, October 8, 2009
Man suffers heart attack driving to Arlington hospital for his checkup
ARLINGTON — A man in his 70s was on his way to the see doctors to have his heart checked out Wednesday when he suffered cardiac arrest and crashed his car in front of the hospital.
This was the second accident in as many days on Snohomish County roads apparently caused when drivers suffered medical problems.
Some accidents caused by a driver's sudden medical episode are unavoidable, Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said.
In 2009, 18 traffic deaths were caused by medical emergencies across the state, said Mimi Nickerson with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Wednesday's accident happened on the street in front of Cascade Valley Hospital when the man's car smashed head-on with a sport utility vehicle around 12:30 p.m. in the 300 block of S. Stillaguamish Avenue, Arlington city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.
“He was experiencing some sort of event,” Banfield said.
A fence stopped the man's car on Wednesday from sliding into a retention pond, and the front end of the SUV was smashed in, Banfield said.
The man and the driver of the other vehicle, a woman, both were taken by paramedics across the street to the emergency room.
Hospital officials told police the man was already on his way to have tests done on his heart.
“He was at the right place at the right time,” Banfield said. “With cardiac patients, you want to get them to the hospital quick, quick, quick.”
The man later was flown by helicopter to another hospital for more advanced care.
The woman suffered neck and head pain and was checked out as a precaution, Banfield said.
A crash on Highway 203 on Tuesday also was caused by a man who reportedly suffered a heart attack.
The 85-year-old was taken by ambulance to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
It wasn't clear if the man in Tuesday's crash had a previously diagnosed problem.
People with existing medical conditions shouldn't drive if their doctor says its unsafe, Leary said.
“We do see cases where someone does not have a pre-existing condition and they have a medical emergency while driving,” Leary said. “We have to think and be realistic when it comes to driving in these situations.”
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
This was the second accident in as many days on Snohomish County roads apparently caused when drivers suffered medical problems.
Some accidents caused by a driver's sudden medical episode are unavoidable, Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said.
In 2009, 18 traffic deaths were caused by medical emergencies across the state, said Mimi Nickerson with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Wednesday's accident happened on the street in front of Cascade Valley Hospital when the man's car smashed head-on with a sport utility vehicle around 12:30 p.m. in the 300 block of S. Stillaguamish Avenue, Arlington city spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.
“He was experiencing some sort of event,” Banfield said.
A fence stopped the man's car on Wednesday from sliding into a retention pond, and the front end of the SUV was smashed in, Banfield said.
The man and the driver of the other vehicle, a woman, both were taken by paramedics across the street to the emergency room.
Hospital officials told police the man was already on his way to have tests done on his heart.
“He was at the right place at the right time,” Banfield said. “With cardiac patients, you want to get them to the hospital quick, quick, quick.”
The man later was flown by helicopter to another hospital for more advanced care.
The woman suffered neck and head pain and was checked out as a precaution, Banfield said.
A crash on Highway 203 on Tuesday also was caused by a man who reportedly suffered a heart attack.
The 85-year-old was taken by ambulance to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
It wasn't clear if the man in Tuesday's crash had a previously diagnosed problem.
People with existing medical conditions shouldn't drive if their doctor says its unsafe, Leary said.
“We do see cases where someone does not have a pre-existing condition and they have a medical emergency while driving,” Leary said. “We have to think and be realistic when it comes to driving in these situations.”
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Story tags »
• Arlington • Police • Car accident • Health treatment • Injuries • Cascade Valley Hospital • PeopleComments
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