Beach Drive crash: 1 driver, 3 damaged cars & 1 damaged pole

Thanks to Rhonda from The Mortgage Porter (WSB sponsor) for the original tip on this – a three-car crash in the 3800 block of Beach Drive earlier this evening, but just one driver involved. According to police at the scene and witnesses, the driver hit two parked cars. (9:15 pm update: a witness in comments says the car that hit the pole is NOT the one that had the driver.)

The driver was taken to the hospital “for observation.” We drove by the scene again a little while ago, and the pole was still angled, but the wrecked cars were gone. (P.S. A few others have shared scene photos on our Facebook wall.)

15 Replies to "Beach Drive crash: 1 driver, 3 damaged cars & 1 damaged pole"

  • John M. April 6, 2010 (9:10 pm)

    I was walking across the street when this happened and have a correction: the car that hit the pole — the one in the first photo — was one of the parked cars; it was hit and rolled into the pole. The white car in the second photo was the one that hit the two parked cars.

    • WSB April 6, 2010 (9:13 pm)

      Thanks.

  • jla April 7, 2010 (6:37 am)

    People really need to slow down on Beach Drive, and elsewhere. We are lucky that only cars and a utility pole were damaged; it could have so easily been a biker or pedestrian. There are constant “near misses” on the corner of Beach Dr and 61st because people don’t stop at the sign on 61st- mostly they slow down a little to see if the coast is clear and the visibility is not good on that corner. All of this, and it’s not even summer yet… then the real “fun” begins.

  • austin April 7, 2010 (8:36 am)

    The ongoing battle between drivers and their immediate surroundings continues..

  • marty April 7, 2010 (9:07 am)

    Texting and driving do not mix.

  • Jeff April 7, 2010 (9:12 am)

    I lived in an apartment directly across the street from the crash location and speeding was always a problem, especially on weekends when people treat it like a highway. My dog and I had several near misses crossing the street in that spot many times.

    I never saw police deal with speeding in that area, but they were very vigilant about parking violations.

  • Bender April 7, 2010 (9:28 am)

    It’s a shame to see an FX in that condition.

  • Rhonda Porter April 7, 2010 (10:07 am)

    The driver had to be going pretty fast to caused that much damage–do we know if they were texting too?

    Any update on their condition?

    I’m amazed at how fast people drive on BD…and agressively…they’ll even pass in an area that is residential and thick with bicyclist, joggers and parents pushing strollers.

  • Erik April 7, 2010 (11:03 am)

    Something about ‘Stop’ signs on 61st that people don’t like…from a business owner on the corner of 61st/Admiral.

  • Kaylie April 7, 2010 (4:02 pm)

    I have really been concerned about how fast people travel on BD. People will actually accelerate before they hit the curve. It is so reckless, they have no idea what’s on the other side of the curve. I see it happen everyday. I’ve contacted the DOT and they don’t feel that BD is an issue. If you are concerned please contact the Seattle DOT and maybe we can get some help.

  • velo_nut April 7, 2010 (9:20 pm)

    Slow down A$$h#les!!!

  • alki_2008 April 8, 2010 (10:42 am)

    I’m not contesting that speeding is bad. But I’m just wondering…is it known that speeding was the cause of this particular incident? It could’ve just as easily been someone going a legal speed, or slower, and not paying attention because of texting or health conditions or even DUI.

  • Tonya April 8, 2010 (2:49 pm)

    The blue house you see in the background is where I live and judging from the skidmarks, he was going very fast. The driver sustained a very bad head injury and I heard it was touch and go. I have heard nothing further. I wish the city would put in the kind of speed bumps they have farther down on Beach Drive. We NEED them. Not enough police in the area and of course when the weather gets warmer, it gets worse. I love where I live but the speeders are getting worse. Once while walking my two beagles some idiot driving way too fast slid up onto the sidewalk and nearly ran us over, didn’t even stop.

  • Michael April 8, 2010 (7:27 pm)

    My Subaru could really use a wash, I’ll get to that this weekend…

  • West Seattlite April 8, 2010 (7:45 pm)

    We drove by right after it happened and saw that one car had completely lost the axle and it was in the middle of the road and someone was pulling it out of the road. We also saw that someone was already calling for assistance and another person was talking to the driver who was bleeding badly from his head. You could also see that the windshield was completely cracked! Glad to see fellow West Seattlites coming to aid no matter who’s fault.

Sorry, comment time is over.