It was just a matter of time until this happened. The Washington State Patrol said the first Pokémon Go-related car crash in Washington happened Monday.
A 28-year-old man was heading eastbound on State Route 202 near 332nd Street in Fall City and was going the speed limit when he rear-ended a Chevy that was stopped in the road waiting to make a left turn. The man admitted to be distracted by Pokémon Go while driving.
WSP said the woman driving the Chevy and her young son did not sustain any injuries.
Pokémon Go’s addictive nature has led to several incidents since it was released earlier this month. Players north of San Diego fell off a seaside cliff last week while playing the game. Armed robbers used lures to get potential victims to come to PokéStops. An Orlando-area man mistook Pokemon players for thieves attempting to rob his home and shot at them. A driver in Baltimore slammed into a police car early Monday morning while playing the game.
WSP is asking players to consider “safety over their high score” and to be aware of Pokémon Go-related hazards.
- Do not trespass! Please don’t be poking out of bushes at WSP facilities or anyone else’s private property…especially at night as it will most likely trigger security or cause police to respond.
- Please don’t catch and drive, it’s more dangerous than texting while driving.
- If you’re on your way to a PokéStop, know your surroundings and pay attention to where you’re going and who’s around you.
