Update: 2 hurt in crash that closed Admiral Way for 6 hours

(First two WSB photos by Tracy Record)
4:40 AM: At least two people are hurt – one seriously – after a crash at 60th/Admiral. One texter says Admiral’s blocked off. We’re en route to find out more.

5:08 AM: This is a one-car rollover. 19-year-old woman driving, very seriously hurt. Passenger hurt too. TCIS is coming, police told us at the scene, so Admiral will be closed here a while; on the east side, it is blocked at 59th. Lots of debris in the road, as shown in our short Instagram clip panning the scene (and photo below). Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.

The car ended up on its side in the planting strip on the south side of Admiral (top photo).

5:58 AM: Metro just texted its reroutes caused by the Admiral Way closure: “Routes 50 and 56 are currently routed off Admiral … Use stops east of 59th SW or west of 61st SW.” (added) The 775 Water Taxi shuttle reroute: “Use stops on SW Admiral Way east of 59th or on Alki SW east of 61st.”

7:48 AM: Still closed. We’ll update here and the daily traffic watch as soon as it reopens.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
8:53 AM: Just back from checking the scene. A tow truck driver had arrived and was doing some cleanup; SPD has been calling for SDOT to do more.

10:10 AM: According to our crew back at the scene, Admiral is reopening, after further cleanup by SDOT and SFD.

10:21 AM: And Metro has just sent a text alert that its routes in that area are back to normal.

39 Replies to "Update: 2 hurt in crash that closed Admiral Way for 6 hours"

  • AK November 7, 2014 (5:51 am)

    Want to get out of Alki on a 6am #56. Anybody know what is happening with the buses that travel Admiral Way to/from Alki? #50, #56, #775?

    • WSB November 7, 2014 (5:55 am)

      AK, I was just noting on Twitter that there is no reroute info yet. I am watching there and via text alert…

      • WSB November 7, 2014 (5:57 am)

        UPDATE – just texted by Metro. “Routes 50 and 56 are currently routed off Admiral … Use stops east of 59th SW or west of 61st SW.”

        ADDED – And another text, Route 775 (Water Taxi shuttle) routed off Admiral, so use stops “on SW Admiral Way east of 59th or on Alki SW east of 61st.”

  • AK November 7, 2014 (6:14 am)

    The #56 came down Admiral and turned toward the beach at about 59th. Then traveled along Alki to 61st. Picked up passengers on the water side of 61st & Alki, then turned left on 61st toward Admiral. I don’t know where it went after that.

  • AK November 7, 2014 (6:16 am)

    6:15am The section of Admiral is still closed. Hearing a siren.

    • WSB November 7, 2014 (6:22 am)

      It’ll be closed for at least a couple hours – investigation and then cleanup. The siren is a medical call in the 2600 block of 59th SW, not related. Shouldn’t be any more sirens for this situation – the two people are long since gone to the hospital, and the investigators won’t be using sirens. They’ll be swapping out roadblock officers (shift change is coming up, I believe) but that won’t be anything anyone needs to rush to. – TR

  • Karen November 7, 2014 (6:25 am)

    Sounds like a 2n ambulance just left the scene.

    • WSB November 7, 2014 (6:29 am)

      Karen, no, there were no more ambulances. That, as mentioned above, was a medical call elsewhere in Alki. The two people involved in this were taken to the hospital more than an hour and a half ago; the driver is at Harborview, not sure about the passenger.

  • AK November 7, 2014 (6:25 am)

    Ok, so after picking up people on the water side of the street at 61st & Alki, the #56 turned south on 61st to Admiral Way. Then turned west on Admiral Way to 63rd. Turned north on 63rd to Alki. Went along Alki to 59th. Turned south on 59th to Admiral Way, then east on Admiral Way to resume regular route.

  • AK November 7, 2014 (7:15 am)

    A #56 bus just drove north on 62nd Ave SW towards Admiral Way. This is confusing – not the regular route or the alternate route described earlier.

  • Barb November 7, 2014 (7:37 am)

    I live right there and just walked past the scene. I sure hope those kids are going to be okay.

  • Mike November 7, 2014 (7:52 am)

    I walked by the scene earlier… didn’t look good. I hope the people involved make it.

  • cathy November 7, 2014 (8:16 am)

    Tow truck just arrived at Admiral and 60th. Admiral still closed with debris all over the street.

    • WSB November 7, 2014 (8:52 am)

      Thank you. We were just down there again, will be adding update. Sounds like the cleanup is still being worked out – the tow truck driver was trying to pick up stuff but SPD was trying to get SDOT to come be sure the glass would be swept away, etc.

  • renaissancered November 7, 2014 (10:04 am)

    Is there something in particular that makes the majority of vehicle accidents in WS rollovers? Is it the roads in our area? Just curious since I see quite a few of them on the blog.

    • WSB November 7, 2014 (10:09 am)

      No, the majority of crashes are not rollovers. We make editorial judgments as to which crashes to cover, depending on injuries, traffic effects, etc., and rollovers are almost always newsworthy. But most days there are a few crashes around the peninsula – and we might not cover any if they are fender-benders – Tracy

  • Robert November 7, 2014 (10:27 am)

    Looked this up:
    http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Rollover/Fatalities

    Rollovers are dangerous incidents and have a higher fatality rate than other kinds of crashes. Of the nearly 9.1 million passenger car, SUV, pickup and van crashes in 2010, only 2.1% involved a rollover.

    However, rollovers accounted for nearly 35% of all deaths from passenger vehicle crashes. In 2010 alone, more than 7,600 people died in rollover crashes. The majority of them (69%) were not wearing safety belts.

    • WSB November 7, 2014 (10:32 am)

      Interesting; thanks!

  • R. November 7, 2014 (10:53 am)

    Any word on the people involved in the crash? Are they okay?

  • John November 7, 2014 (11:08 am)

    I live right there and was awakened by the crash. The boy (the passenger?) was walking around under his own power. I asked him if he was okay and he said he was, but he couldn’t imagine how he came through the crash relatively unscathed. The girl, however, was in pretty bad shape – conscious, but apparently in a lot of pain. I’ve been thinking about her all morning and I hope and pray they’ll both be okay.

  • Mike November 7, 2014 (12:52 pm)

    I used to live right there at 60th and Admiral. I have to say, that corner is dangerous for cars and pedestrians. Its mostly blind turn left from 60th (or the Alley) onto Admiral also dangerous to get to the bus stop across Admiral with cars speeding down the hill. This looks like it was one car coming down the hill and didn’t negotiate the turn (likely due to speed). I don’t know how many times I heard cars screaming up and down the hill right there (common problem due to Alki). People need to slow down…
    Hope the people involved are ok!

  • Citizen Sane November 7, 2014 (1:16 pm)

    Good Lord, what a ‘yard sale’! Was that SUV full of stuff? Anyway, it’s very sad, and completely unnecessary. Parents, always do as much as you can to drill into your kids the consequences of poor driving choices (speeding, distracted driving, drinking and drugging, etc), and be sure to teach by example. I see waaaaay too many people who should be old enough to know better bombing down Beach Drive at well over the limit.
    .
    I think all roads west of 35th should have a 25mph speed limit, and speed radar cameras should be liberally spread through the area to catch and fine those who are too selfish to be drive safely.

  • Nicole November 7, 2014 (3:21 pm)

    I awoke to the horrible sounds of this accident this morning, and having a daughter the driver’s age, my heart has been heavy all day. Three years ago, I made a left turn out of the alley between 59th and 60th. A car was speeding down the hill and I was t-boned, my car totaled and to this day, I am traumatized from the event. Perhaps an additional stop light is in order or at least a serious conversation regarding the safety of this street.Praying for the kids and their families.

  • DGK November 7, 2014 (3:30 pm)

    There are also a lot of cyclists riding up Admiral. Slow down and give them room. Nothing is worth having some one get hurt. I think of the safety of cyclists when passing and of course I hope the girl hurt today will pull through.

  • AG November 7, 2014 (3:34 pm)

    Somebody’s got to know these kids. I hope there’s a positive update soon. Thinking of them.

  • angelescrest November 7, 2014 (4:37 pm)

    Was there not another similar, early morning and serious accident a year ago or so involving a young person? Nicole, Awful! I see that as being a very harrowing exit from the alley.

  • cheri1p November 7, 2014 (5:44 pm)

    We live on 61st and have seen many many crashes at that very place over the years, almost all of the incidents were due to speeding, driver unable to negotiate the corner at higher speeds and alcohol. We have seen, deaths, seriously maimed people trying to get out of those alleys on to Admiral. I myself have nearly been t-boned countless times, once just recently with my grandson in the car.
    In my opinion, vehicles should NOT be able to park on Admiral where visibility of traffic coming down the hill is blocked or minimal, or the alleys should be blocked altogether from exiting that direction, that may not be possible because fire trucks cannot get down the narrow streets so they use the alley, or speed bumps need to be put in place west bound on Admiral between 59th and 63rd. We live very near to Admiral on 61st, we call it I-61, during the summer beach visitors race down this street and other streets in the area, our neighbors dog was hit by one of those cars, driving way, way to fast. I’ve contacted SPD about it, but to our knowledge have done nothing. I have sat on my front porch and watch the little rice rocket motorcycles speed and drive while doing popups(driving on rear tire only) while SPD was parked on the street and did absolutely nothing.

  • peter November 7, 2014 (6:27 pm)

    i also live right there and happened to be letting my dog out at that time and heard the tires screeching, then a slight one second pause and then the horrible metal crash sound. i knew it was bad. the alley between 59th and 60th and even 60th are extremely dangerous spots to turn left onto Admiral. there’s at least a couple accidents per year there. people are doing 50+mph coming down Admiral.

    i’ve seen cyclists coming down Admiral too fast and blow through the red light on 59th so i’m surprised one of them hasn’t died yet.

  • T November 7, 2014 (6:38 pm)

    I too was startled awake by the accident, as I live on the corner of 60th and Admiral. Over the last 9 years that I have lived here, my parked car has been smashed by a drunk driver, I was t-boned pulling out of the alley between 59th and 60th, and I’ve seen numerous accidents all of different degrees. I always wonder why the city doesn’t paint cross walks, add flashing lights, install speed bumps, I don’t know……..something that will slow people down. I have been thinking about them all day and really hope they are ok. It would be good to hear an update on their conditions and to know how it happened.

  • malalex November 7, 2014 (8:16 pm)

    I know them both very well passenger is home safe driver is still in critical condition…

  • Nicoletta November 7, 2014 (9:06 pm)

    Thank you for the update malalex. My husband and I live on Admiral between 60th and 61st and were some of the first ones outside/calling 911. I keep hoping to hear an update as I can’t stop thinking about the accident and what I saw.

  • John November 7, 2014 (10:04 pm)

    malalex, thanks so much for the update. I’m very sorry to hear the girl is still in critical condition, though.

  • malalex November 8, 2014 (12:15 am)

    Thanks for all the people that were on the scene to help my friends ill update the blog when the driver is home safe

  • AG November 10, 2014 (3:38 pm)

    malalex, I hope she’s doing better. Please do update us or email WSB editor with an update when you have one.

  • John November 11, 2014 (6:25 am)

    I, too, am hoping the driver is recovering. I’ve been praying for her since Friday.

  • johndoe November 11, 2014 (11:19 am)

    I talked to her father this morning, she is making good recovery.

  • lala2mom November 12, 2014 (8:35 am)

    Passenger was wearing seatbelt; driver was not.

  • tk November 12, 2014 (9:16 pm)

    That’s a lot of stuff in their car that fell out.

  • Erin November 14, 2014 (8:38 pm)

    Her leg(s) were broken horribly. Please, any update is appreciated. I did all I could to comfort her. We had to stop her from moving. Please, what were her injuries? Is there any way we can help with her recovery?

    I appreciate any and all updates. As do all of us. We were all victims that night.

    Erin

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