WEATHER/TRAFFIC: ‘Wind advisory’ alert; crashes tonight

8:32 PM: You might have noticed about two hours ago that the wind suddenly picked up in a big way – “house-rocking” velocity, we observed via Twitter at the time, but the National Weather Service hadn’t issued any alerts. Now, it has, as pointed out by Heather pointed out; the wind advisory warns of gusts up to 50 mph, and is in effect until noon Sunday.

8:55 PM P.S. – TRAFFIC: Thanks to everyone who’s called/texted/tweeted about trouble on the bridge tonight – first, a westbound crash; more recently, an eastbound crash, both on the westernmost section, between Fauntleroy/35th and Admiral. In both cases, lanes reopened before we could even publish something here, but we monitor traffic fairly closely on Twitter, so if you’re heading out or back, check there first.

10:28 PM: Roger caught the westbound 35th crash on his dashcam – it’s toward the end of the minute-long clip:

And thanks to Jason for a photo from Olson/Cambridge, where he says a crash reported about an hour ago involved this vehicle hitting a light fixture:

No major injuries reported in any of these crashes.

Eddie December 12, 2015 (9:14 pm)

41 mph at 9:12pm just west of the junction

WSB December 12, 2015 (9:19 pm)

No wind gauge here but it’s definitely still delivering house-rocking gusts.

Fred December 12, 2015 (9:53 pm)

Guess you guys also missed the 4 car collison on 35th earlier.

WSB December 12, 2015 (10:06 pm)

Didn’t hear from anyone about a 35th crash; we are reliant on and appreciative of tips. I see one in the afternoon at 35th/Rose – was that it? Just logged as an MVI, which means no injuries of note…

Fred December 12, 2015 (10:38 pm)

Yeah, congested 35th for a while. Surprised no one reported it. With 4 cars involved I figured it would have been on here.

Fred December 12, 2015 (10:47 pm)

One car lost its entire front end…

JanS December 12, 2015 (10:56 pm)

I noticed the car in the video on the dash cam was the only car weaving in and out of traffic. Tsk ! Tsk!

WSB December 12, 2015 (11:00 pm)

That was what Roger’s caption on the YT page (click through the embedded video) noted.

russ December 13, 2015 (1:52 am)

Gusts on Puget Ridge seem stronger than I can remember recently. If I had to bet I would take the over on 50 mph

Driver December 13, 2015 (4:33 am)

The driver of the white BMW that crashed needs to be sited for speeding, failing to signal, unsafe lane change and driving too fast for conditions. It is imperative that law enfircement be shown this evidence from the dash-cam. On a side note, I recognize that vehicle and have observered it driving erratically on previous occasions.

unknown December 13, 2015 (6:11 am)

What the heck made that car lose control????…besides driving erratically, swerving in and out of traffic…speeding???

cjboffoli December 13, 2015 (7:31 am)

unknown: karma?

Jim December 13, 2015 (8:11 am)

unknown: It is worth noting the the dashcam had a reported speed of 82KmPH. That would be 50 MPH. And the White BMW went by him like he was standing still.

WSB December 13, 2015 (8:26 am)

Thanks, Jim. But please note that the sender pointed out that the time/date on the dashcam was off, so I don’t know if the speed was accurate.

Motormike December 13, 2015 (8:25 am)

@unknown: rear wheel drive, most older BMWs are RWD. RWD is very twitchy in low traction situations and can result in spin outs. The red truck also is RWD.

unknown December 13, 2015 (9:00 am)

To all… I was being sarcastic and know why it happened. ;.)

Roger December 13, 2015 (10:04 am)

I noticed him coming up behind pretty fast and thought he might rear end me. He probably had summer tires on his car too. If a person is going to drive like that, at least do it when there are no other drivers to endanger and when it’s not so slippery out.

Driver seemed to be in his late 50’s, early 60’s?

NW December 13, 2015 (10:45 am)

When this stretch of roadway was engineered I recall hearing about how my grandfather was strongly against the design of it how dangerous its design turned out. I know from experience traveling along it that when slick especially with ice as it is an elevated roadway it naturally can if not taken slowly spin a vehicle out of control.

Linda December 13, 2015 (1:36 pm)

Roger, thanks so much for that video – makes my heart go in my throat AGAIN! I was the blue Subaru that he spun out right in front of. I pulled off to the side. Had I not breaked hard, we would have been head-on with him. Glad you got it on video. Have you turned it over to police? (Now I know what is on my christmas list.)

NW December 13, 2015 (2:15 pm)

Have confirmed with my parents who grew up here that opposite eastbound lane at this same curve has seen cargo truck(s) years ago loose control and result in death of driver going over the guardrail.