[PHOTOS] Car Rolled Down an Embankment on US101 in Clallam County

There were clear skies and perfect driving conditions this morning, but a silver sedan, probably a Subaru wagon, still ended up sitting at the bottom of a grassy embankment in US-101.

The crash happened “just off” US-101 near Sequim Avenue. You can see in photos released from the Washington State Patrol that the driver's side door of the wagon broke off after rolling over on the hillside.

Weather was not a factor here. The driver following too closely was, according to troopers.

Washington State Patrol Says This Caused Rollover US-101 Crash at Milepost 264

Washington State Patrol Trooper Katherine Weatherwax says the sequence of events was straightforward but completely preventable.

One vehicle was following too closely behind another car, struck it as that car attempted to pass, and the impact sent the vehicle being passed over the embankment and down the hillside.

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The tow truck visible at the top of the embankment in the photos gives you a sense of how far down the car ended up.

The Photos Show the Driver was Lucky

Both photos show the silver sedan resting at the bottom of a grassy slope off the highway. The damage tells the story of what the car went through on the way down. The driver's side door is completely gone, visible lying in the grass in front of the vehicle.

Damage covers every quarter panel and the roof, though remarkably the roof itself did not fully collapse. Nearly every window is shattered or completely missing, with only one or two fragments remaining in their frames.

This car rolled. The evidence is on every panel.

A Preventable Crash on a Perfect Day

That is the part that stands out most. Blue sky overhead, dry pavement, good visibility, and what looks like every external condition working in this driver's favor. The only variable that created this crash was following distance, and probably attention.

Trooper Weatherwax said it best: drive safely and leave ample room between vehicles.

On a clear summer day, there is simply no reason a car should end up at the bottom of an embankment.