UPDATE: Two crashes in Arbor Heights


(35th/108th crash – photo by Brent Lindblom)

3:32 PM: Big Seattle Fire “heavy rescue” response is on the way to 35th SW/SW 108th in Arbor Heights. More to come.

3:36 PM: Per scanner, the person in the vehicle is OK and the response is being downsized.

3:48 PM: SFD is also at the scene of another Arbor Heights crash, 39th/98th, and we’ll have our crew check on that one too.

4 PM: Thanks to Brent Lindblom for sending a photo from 35th/108th, added above. (He talked to the driver before authorities arrived and says, “He apparently had a dizzy spell and hit the light post.”) Our crew also has briefly stopped there and verified that the driver was not hurt; the road will be clear once the truck is towed. We’re on the way now to the other crash scene.

4:10 PM: Two cars collided at 39th/98th, and a woman had to be extricated from the Toyota in the photo above, we’ve been told at the scene. She was taken to a hospital by private ambulance.

24 Replies to "UPDATE: Two crashes in Arbor Heights"

  • bergman April 18, 2017 (4:14 pm)

    How do so many people roll their cars on residential streets? Its truly amazing how often it happens. 

    • Gatewood April 18, 2017 (4:30 pm)

      It has been happening for years around here, I don’t understand it either.  

    • Beto April 18, 2017 (4:34 pm)

      I always wonder the same thing.  How can these accidents happen on 30 mph roads?  

    • Alan April 18, 2017 (11:48 pm)

      This question gets asked on WSB every time there is a rollover accident. I’m guilty of it too.

      Google “low speed rollover” and you can see multiple examples of cars rolling over while going 30 or slower.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sbNBZvSx_A

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ2LyYqpTX4

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1goe8oK0j4

    • Andy April 19, 2017 (10:22 am)

      Id like to see a law passed in Olympia that would make it a mandatory reckless driving citation for rolling your vehicle in a residential location. Some drivers in West Seattle are getting completely out of hand. The other day, as I was standing on the corner of California and Alaska, I watched a driver who was going at least 50 miles an hour, maybe more, run a red light. It left me wishing I was a cop.

  • HelperMonkey April 18, 2017 (4:33 pm)

    I’ll guarantee that second wreck happened because the majority of people in AH have no idea how uncontrolled intersections work. Every day I stop at the various uncontrolled intersections while someone just flies through, blissfully unaware of their surroundings. Uncontrolled intersections should be treated as 4-way stops – not “I’m going faster/east/west/north/south so I have the right of way” No sympathy here. Learn to drive or take the bus. I’ll continue to stop at every uncontrolled i/s in AH, screw the rest of ya. 

    • Raised in WS April 18, 2017 (6:00 pm)

      I’m with you, I’m always super cautious while driving in this neighborhood and urge anyone I drive with to slow down and mind the many uncontrolled intersections (as you call them) as you never know who’s coming on the other side, I’ve seen a few close calls myself. It’s amazing to me how many people’s first impulse is to speed right through though @_@

    • Jonny Wheels April 18, 2017 (9:12 pm)

      Actually, that is not technically an “uncontrolled intersection” as there are Yield signs on 39th. Also, “uncontrolled intersections” do not legally need to be treated as four-way stops.  Traffic on the right has the “right-of-way”. Wishing my neighbor a speedy recovery.  

    • JanS April 19, 2017 (2:07 am)

      Hear! Hear!

  • Former Mayor of Alki April 18, 2017 (5:01 pm)

    Pretty sure 35th is 30 MPH, while others like 98th and 100th are 25, though people treat it like 40

    • Alan April 18, 2017 (7:08 pm)

      OK, this is a good question, though I think we’ve established multiple times that it does NOT require speed to roll. 35th is posted as “30” and you can see the sign right next to the truck. 100th has a yellow line down the middle indicating it is an arterial, so it should also be 30 since it is not posted otherwise. 98th is a residential street, so it should be 25…or is it 20 now? I thought all residential streets were going to drop to 20 and arterials to 25 for that matter. I don’t know where we are in that process.

  • Jay Koster April 18, 2017 (5:26 pm)

    I’m more curious about the dizzy spells. This is now the second (maybe third?) time I’ve read here in the blog about someone getting dizzy just before an accident.

    What the heck is going on? 

    • Sam-c April 18, 2017 (7:26 pm)

      Well, since the election….. Blood pressure and sleeping problems, is my guess (for dizziness) Or watching drug commercials, all side effects include … dizziness.

       But in seriousness, honestly, hopefully those involved today, are ok and don’t have any lasting problems from injuries.

  • melissa April 18, 2017 (6:09 pm)

    The totaled Toyota belongs to a neighbor of ours, a lovely elderly woman. She was talking and lucid, despite the state of her car. 

    • Gatewood April 19, 2017 (9:50 am)

      Glad to hear that!

  • 56bricks April 18, 2017 (6:55 pm)

    More of that West Seattle vehicle vortex I spoke of earlier.

  • Hoku April 18, 2017 (7:38 pm)

    Almost got T-boned at uncontrolled intersection in Arbor Heights (AH) this past Saturday at 12:30pm by a likely drunk driver. He was drinking a large beer and couldn’t stay in his lane as I followed him north on 35th. Scary. And, yes, I called 911.

  • ACG April 18, 2017 (7:39 pm)

    If I have the correct intersection in my mind, the intersection at 39th and 98th is horrible. There is a big tall solid wooden fence at that corner which completely impacts a drivers ability to see traffic coming from from the cross street. Technically drivers travelling on 39th are supposed to slow and yield to those on 98th. I have been nearly broadsided myself (as I was driving on 98th) by a car that did not yield driving on 39th and I couldn’t see them at all due to the fence. I now always slow down at that intersection so that I can peek around the fence and safely drive through it without being hit. I am surprised that the fencing is allowed, I can’t think of another intersection where the fencing obstructs the view of traffic like in this situation. I suppose the yield sign is supposed to “control” the intersection, but if a driver doesn’t yield appropriately, another driver approaching on the cross street is unable to see them to react defensively. Not safe, IMHO. 

    Hope everyone recovers quickly. 

  • Sunuva April 18, 2017 (8:56 pm)

    Drivers around here treat 98th like an arterial. Cars often sail right through this intersection without even tapping the brakes. The next intersection to the east at 98th & 37th has a traffic circle but drivers treat it like a swerve challenge. My general observation walking and running 98th regularly is that drivers need to slow wayyy down and look out for other cars and pedestrians.

  • idiot driver April 18, 2017 (9:08 pm)

    Last year I was responsible for a crash in AH at an uncontrolled intersection. As a resident of the city for more than 12 years I was made painfully aware of who has the right of way and not all intersections are marked. Next time you are behind me wondering why I drive slowly and check every intersection, do try to resist the urge to honk.

    • Susan April 18, 2017 (9:32 pm)

      @ Idiot Driver:  It doesn’t sound like you can use that handle any longer.  You could  have slept in the back of the class but you chose to sit in the front, take good notes, and get an A on the exam.   Good for you.    Haven’t come up with a better “title” but perhaps others might weigh in?

  • anonyme April 19, 2017 (6:43 am)

    One reasonable explanation I’ve heard for the abundance of rollovers is texting.  Drivers glance up just in time to see an imminent crash, and crank the steering wheel hard to the side.  Presto – you’ve flipped the vehicle.

    Walking can be scary in AH, as there are no sidewalks and people drive like maniacs.

  • DirkDigs April 19, 2017 (8:19 am)

    It’s because the vast majority of ppl in West Seattle don’t obey the traffic laws. I complained about this in another thread yesterday; I would really like if Seattle Police would start enforcing traffic laws in areas where small children walk (or are walked in strollers) every single day.

    DRIVE LIKE YOUR KIDS LIVE HERE.

  • Ric April 19, 2017 (12:51 pm)

    Well,maybe the majority of people in West Seattle shouldn’t be driving.  I’ve only been here 48 years and tend to agree with you.  Actually, my sentiment applies to most of Seattle.   Explosive growth,crime,drivers make me consider going back to Kansas, but,well,you know,it’s Kansas. Nice folks and all, but…

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