Update: Crash on 35th SW cleared

(Photo shared by Laura via Facebook)
8:40 AM: Thanks to the tipster who just texted about this: If you’re heading ~~southbound~~ out on 35th SW any time soon, there’s a 2-car crash at 35th and Austin (map).

8:47 AM UPDATE: This is affecting traffic in both directions; we’re off to check.

9:09 AM UPDATE: Added a photo.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
No serious injuries reported. As the photo shows, it’s right by the Sunrise Heights business district, and tow trucks are already starting to clear the scene; in the meantime, there’s one lane open on the east side of the road, and police were working to make sure buses could get through.

9:23 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Laura for sharing the photo we’ve added atop the story, an overview of the scene fairly early on.

9:46 AM: Just went back to check; the scene is now clear.

Thomas February 1, 2014 (9:19 am)

I feel that maybe, maybe, there is a trend on 35th Ave.

Gibby February 1, 2014 (9:31 am)

That’s the corner of 35th and SW Webster.

WSB February 1, 2014 (11:40 am)

Gibby – SFD dispatched it as 35th/Austin and that’s why we mapped it initially; it was between Webster and Austin (which as I’m sure you know is the next street south).

old timer February 1, 2014 (9:32 am)

That area on 35th between Holden and Webster is a real mess with the Holden double light jog on 35th and then Ida and Austin left turners with no turning lane.
This piece of road god demands daily frustrations and periodic accidents, I do not know why it isn’t reconfigured.

Alon Bassok February 1, 2014 (9:47 am)

Probably a good time for a reminder about the petition to the mayor about improving safety on 35th. Please consider signing it: http://www.change.org/petitions/ed-murray-make-35th-ave-sw-safer-for-everyone-in-2014-by-investing-in-safety-improvements?share_id=XnvJWIrryR&utm_campaign=share_button_mobile&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

T February 1, 2014 (10:13 am)

When is going to SPD going to address the speeding issue? How many more people are going to be hurt? I drive down 35th everyday at 35mph, and people always speed past me at 50mph.

Mike February 1, 2014 (10:43 am)

T, where did the article say speed was a factor? Maybe somebody was texting, maybe somebody was avoiding something in the road, maybe a pedestrian jumped out in the road, maybe aliens moved the car, maybe you should not jump to conclusions.

nemobeansmom February 1, 2014 (10:45 am)

I agree with T…you’re going 35mph and people pass you like it’s I-5 and the road is so pothole patched and grooves it that most cars just bounce all around, back & forth on it, I could go on and on but what good does it do?

West Seattle Hipster February 1, 2014 (10:49 am)

As much as I loath the idea of reducing capacity via a road diet, it probably needs to be done.

There are far too many drivers on our roads who are unable to follow basic driving rules and laws.

Chris February 1, 2014 (11:42 am)

Regardless of the cause of this particular accident (speed, texting, inattention, or whatever), redesigning the road would encourage people to travel at safer speeds in general. If some people are going to drive unsafely no matter what, I would rather have them doing it at 35 MPH rather that 45 or 50 MPH.

wsn00b February 1, 2014 (1:09 pm)

It’s pretty hard to maintain even 35 on that section. Holden/35th is like is pretty rutted with raised bumps. Try coming westbound on Holden to 35th and continue onto Holden. That S-turn is hilariously bumpy. Holden to Othello is pothole central with many badly fixed potholes and utility cuts.

I don’t see how anybody does more than 20 mph on that stretch without damaging their car or losing their lunch.

So lets put some lipstick (painted lanes) on this pig of a road. That’ll fix everything.

From the other 35th Ave thread, Mike posted a Road Diet study from DOT that shows that diets statistically reduce the frequency by 6% and not the severity or rate of accidents.

So lets all continue to emotionally armchair transportation engineer 35th ave arterial based on our anecdotal statistically invalid perceptions.

I refuse to sign that petition till SPD and SDOT publish causes on all these recent accidents. You know something called DATA.

pigeonmom February 1, 2014 (1:11 pm)

Only 600 signatures on the petition so far?
C’mon people!

West Seattle Wanderer February 1, 2014 (2:20 pm)

Just before encountering this road block this morning, I watched a woman crossing in the middle of a block on 35th with her dog on a leash about 20 feet in front of her.

It’s not always the driver’s fault. Pedestrians need to be trained, too.

I-35 February 1, 2014 (8:21 pm)

They need to remove all the parked car from both sides of the road way, widen the lanes and add a center turn lane. this needs to happen from Roxbury all the way up to Avalon. Give the cars room to move with-in the lane. Speed is not the problem.
Pedestrians will also benefit with the parked cars removed…they can see if a car is coming…But they will still be diligent on crossing the street.

JanS February 1, 2014 (8:51 pm)

wow….I didn’t realize that people constantly going 15-20 miles over the speed limit is not problem. Thanks for letting me know I-35…by the way what kind of car do you drive…just want to know to get out of your way when you’re coming while I’m going 35 mph…Thanks…

Oh, and there are businesses and houses all up and down 35th..where are their cars supposed to park, pray tell?

JoAnne February 2, 2014 (11:28 am)

Before the knee-jerk reactionists throttle our last north/south throughway, lets get some questions answered and collect some actual data.
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Do people who tend to speed select 35th Ave in order to avoid existing road diets on Delridge, California Ave, and Fauntleroy?
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If we can have speed cameras in school zones, why can’t we have them on 35th (where people are actually speeding!)?
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Is the number of accidents per capita actually higher? Or is the increase related to the extremely higher density in West Seattle?
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Doesn’t anyone stop and think before they act anymore??

Landon February 2, 2014 (11:51 am)

I think that most the previous comments are “BS”. What happened was, an uninsured 82 year old man with no drivers license was parked on the side of the road facing north on 35th. He then decided to bust a U turn as a car was coming north, the the accident happened and then he got out of his car and walked away. Eventually he came back and lied to police officers about what happened. It’s to bad people can’t do the right thing. Now you all know the truth. You’re all welcome.

goplay February 2, 2014 (10:29 pm)

The SPD ADRT has issued 100’s of speeding citations on 35th SW. The Speed Camera Van has issued 100’s of citations on 35th SW.
.
It is not all about enforcement.
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The three E’s to traffic enforcement are Education, Engineering and Enforcement.
.
One would think that after 100’s of speeding citations issued on 35th SW that SDOT would look at the engineering side of it.

wsn00b February 3, 2014 (6:04 pm)

@goplay:
Right – lets do some engineering.

In engineering, you start with analysis of root causes and data.
However a chunk of resident traffic engineering population already seems to have concluded (within minutes of every accident) that reducing lanes is the engineering solution that is right.

It very well could be one.

The only data analysis posted so far in the entire discourse around 35th is from “Mike” who posted:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/humanfac/04082/

Please lets do some engineering. The petition request isn’t really an engineered solution.
(+1 JoAnne! )

goplay February 4, 2014 (4:48 pm)

I don’t support lane reductions but do believe SDOT should look at other passive traffic control measures such as raised pavement markings, painted chevrons, edge markings, better signage, radar speed readers, light controlled marked crosswalks, pedestrian overpasses and improved lighting to name a few.

Sorry, comment time is over.