Update: Victim dies after California-Dawson crash

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Seattle Police have just updated their media-line information about the pedestrian-vehicle crash at California/Dawson by Rite Aid earlier this afternoon (previous WSB coverage here), and they say the victim – still described only as an “elderly woman” — has just died at Harborview Medical Center. She was crossing eastward at about quarter till 1 this afternoon, apparently in the crosswalk, when a southbound vehicle hit her. That section of California south of The Junction was closed for about three hours so investigators (photo above) could examine the scene. The victim is the second person hit and killed by a vehicle in West Seattle in less than a month and a half; just last August, 39-year-old Gregory Hampel was hit and killed on 35th SW near Camp Long (here’s our report) – almost parallel to the scene of this afternoon’s crash, half a mile east.

37 Replies to "Update: Victim dies after California-Dawson crash"

  • beachdrivegirl September 22, 2008 (5:20 pm)

    That is so sad. My condolences go out to the victims family and friends.

  • Kayleigh September 22, 2008 (5:35 pm)

    :-( This is my neighborhood. My heart is with her family tonight.

  • Alia September 22, 2008 (5:51 pm)

    Terrible news. :( Does this intersection have those flags to use when crossing?

  • JanS September 22, 2008 (5:54 pm)

    Alia, yes, there are flags, and a marked crosswalk. This is so very sad…my heart goes out to her family.

  • Irukandji September 22, 2008 (5:57 pm)

    This intersection does have flags. They aren’t always on the side one needs them, though. They seem to congregate on one side or the other.

    I know from driving through there that it is really hard to see pedestrians walking east: they come out from behind parked cars, and it is a T-intersection. In dappled sunlight it’s hard to tell anyone is waiting until you’re really close and can see around obstruction – especially if peds are in muted clothing.

    My heart goes out to the victim’s family. We’ll wait for further reports on the ’cause’ of the accident.

  • Driver & pedestrian September 22, 2008 (6:21 pm)

    Who cares what the ’cause’ of the collision is? Yeah, it’s difficult to see peds in that crosswalk. But that is NO excuse! Why can’t something be done about this? Drivers are at fault. This makes me livid. It is so sad & so incredibly preventable. Great that WS is adding tons & tons more residents & all their attendant cars. We can look forward to a lot more dead peds in the coming years, I’m sure.

  • miws September 22, 2008 (6:32 pm)

    My condolences to the family and friends as well.

    .

    We went past this intersecton yesterday on the way to the car show (and back). There appeared to be plenty of flags on either side at those times.

    Mike

  • Irukandji September 22, 2008 (8:01 pm)

    D&P,

    Drivers are very much to blame for so many pedestrian injuries and deaths. My comments about the challenges of that particular crossing are simply my observances – those of a cautious driver AWARE that extra care needs to be taken there. Many may not be so aware, hence this tragedy.

    Determining ’cause’ is simply a necessary part of any accident and why there was an investigation with road closure. Waiting for the results of an investigation before assigning wholehearted blame is part of the painful process. I think we’ve all learned that, even knowing it doesn’t look good for the driver thus far with a pedestrian dead in a crosswalk. We don’t know yet about speed, phone use, distractions and/or additional negligence issues.

    Many care about the ’cause’ of these things in a great effort to make the roads safe for everyone using them, be they pedestrians, bicyclists or other drivers. My hope is that the family gets all the answers they need to move forward in whatever way does right by their deceased and her loved ones.

  • Todd September 22, 2008 (8:03 pm)

    I feel the same way Irukandji does. I was going to basically say what he/she said earlier today but was sure it would bring comments like D&P’s. It is my opinion after driving through here for 10 years or so that it was a tragic accident. It is a bad intersection/crosswalk and todays tragedy is proof of that. There needs to be a stop light or some improvement made to the area. It is hard to see people in the shade of the tree’s for example. Cars park to close to the intersections making it hard to see people waiting to cross even if one is driving slowly. If Seattle wants to pack more people in to WS and encourage giving up the car, one way of transportation is walking and the city NEEDS to give that some attention vs removing cross walks and putting up signs as this blog has reported on in the past. Sadly, tragically, governemnt is reactive vs proactive. I’ve griped about this to our “leaders” and on this blog for years!

  • Todd September 22, 2008 (8:06 pm)

    I as typing my comment above as Irukandji was typing his/hers .. There have been several accidents and fatilites just this year in WS. Change needs to happen. Vote, write our leaders, comment on this blog, etc. Do something.

  • steve September 22, 2008 (8:20 pm)

    I feel stoplights are needed at more pedestrian crossings and this is a prime example. Avalon also seems dangerous in a couple locations. Many times I’ve stopped for crossing pedestrians and drivers heading the opposite direction fail to stop.

  • JumboJim September 22, 2008 (8:31 pm)

    How about an elevated crosswalk? I’ve seen those, and they require drivers to at least slow down driving through the area, even if there aren’t pedestrians. Combined with recessed, blinking pavement lights that flash when the crosswalk is occupied (and only then) I think that could go a long ways towards making that crossing safer.

  • JumboJim September 22, 2008 (8:35 pm)

    You know, another thought just occurred. People have mentioned the dappled light there. It really does make it tricky to see the crosswalk, combined with the many parked cars there. I have learned to actually look for the colored flags in their holders at the side of the road as an alert to just where the crosswalk is. Of course there is a blinking light above it, but since I’m looking down for pedestrians anyways, I key in on those colored flags first. I really hate that particular crossing – even more so now. This is really so sad.

  • cakeitseasy September 22, 2008 (8:49 pm)

    Isn’t the apartment building just north of that intersection (on the west side, north of Rite-Aid) filled with many elderly residents?

    Cars simply need to SLOW DOWN. If speed limits and crosswalks don’t work, they really should install lights at more intersections, to slow traffic. Or take a page from Mexcio (yes, Mexico) TOPES! (huge speed bumps) for those of you who have driven in Mexico, you know that once you hit one of those bad boys, you’ll never make the mistake not to slow down again!

    Next time it could be you or someone you love who gets run down.

  • steve September 22, 2008 (8:53 pm)

    the over abundance of trees cause shadows there most of the day, they should be removed at least near the main crossings along the ave

  • austin September 22, 2008 (8:56 pm)

    Trees should not be removed. Drivers should slow down and pay attention.

    Condolences to all involved.

  • steve September 22, 2008 (9:00 pm)

    austin, look at the picture…

  • arietta September 22, 2008 (9:21 pm)

    Steve, Ok, I looked at the picture. How exactly are the trees blocking the view there?

  • scaredpedestrian September 22, 2008 (9:26 pm)

    How about those “flashing crosswalks” they have in some neighborhoods? I don’t know of any here, but they have them in rich neighborhoods in Kirkland. That way it takes care of the shade issue. It is a pretty dark crosswalk.
    Bottom line, this intersection is scary, and I was a pedestrian for years in San Francisco–so I feel that says something. I feel so sad that an accident happened here, but of all intersections, I am not surprised. How tragic!

  • steve September 22, 2008 (9:47 pm)

    arietta, I didn’t say the trees were blocking the view, but they do add to or create the “dappled light” another post mentioned, it can be distracting

  • Jim September 22, 2008 (9:51 pm)

    White Center has a crosswalk on 16th at about 104th or so that uses yellow strobes embedded in the pavement. They light up when the pedestrian activates them, and they can be seen from blocks away.

  • GenHillOne September 22, 2008 (10:08 pm)

    They have one of those lights by Seattle U (on Jefferson?) – I’m sure they’re more expensive, but they sure get you to pay attention. I’m sorry for the victim’s family and the driver.

  • Tara September 22, 2008 (11:04 pm)

    I agree those trees and the way they hang over the cross walk make it hard to see people walking there. I always feel like people are just walking out into the street also here in West Seattle. Even on California some people just jaywalk without looking. But this particular crosswalk, they really need to TRIM BACK THOSE TREES. THIS IS A MUST DO. I have 15 years of driving experience, do not text or talk on the cell phone and I also cannot see the people crossing because of the trees and the lighting there. I agree with other posters the trees need to be trimmed at this crosswalk. Very sad news.

  • goodgraces September 22, 2008 (11:36 pm)

    I know exactly what all the previous posters mean about that particular crosswalk being a difficult one (for drivers) — there’s something about it that makes it especially hard to suss-out whether anyone’s trying to cross. Perhaps it’s the dappled light, or the side streets off to the right and left, or the preponderance of parked cars along there. Or the fugly Rite Aid there that I can’t seem to look away from, despite its uckiness. I don’t know, exactly. Only that I’m not at all surprised to hear about this horrible accident there and feel terribly sad for ALL involved — victim, victim’s family, the driver, etc.

    Am I the only one who is constantly paranoid about hitting someone in a crosswalk here in WS? I am always afraid I won’t see someone attempting to cross. I NEVER text or talk while driving, but with 2–3 little ones in the car with me at all times, I hardly drive around swathed in zen-like calm and focus. Despite the unremitting distractions, though, I consider myself pretty darn vigilant about pedestrians. But I’m STILL paranoid about it!

  • hc September 22, 2008 (11:55 pm)

    My best thoughts are with this women’s family.

  • CMP September 23, 2008 (7:51 am)

    Whoa, I live right at this intersection and had no idea that someone was hit yesterday, crazy. First off, don’t complain about the parked cars in the area. Some of us don’t have garages and our only option is to park on the street. It’s not even overparked compared to most of California b/c there are two bus stops adjacent to this crosswalk. It’s hard to see any of the crosswalks on California between the Morgan and Alaska Junctions b/c of those trees so I agree they should be cut down or trimmed significantly. Not just to brighten up the road, but they get sappy in the summertime and I waste a ton of money at the car wash trying to get that sticky mess off my car. It’s gross. Anyway, I’ve lived at that intersection for almost six years, crossing the street constantly and have never had any major problems. you just have to be patient and sometimes it takes a minute or two to have an opportunity to cross. However, there’s no excuse for not stopping for someone in a crosswalk and my heart goes out to this woman’s family for such an unfortunate accident.

  • Gina September 23, 2008 (8:41 am)

    I have almost been hit as a pedestrian at that crosswalk. And as a driver, it is one of the more difficult spots to see people in the crosswalk.
    It is one of the “heightened alertness” areas for me when driving.

    My thoughts are with both the family of the pedestrian, and the driver.

  • JustChattin\\\' September 23, 2008 (9:23 am)

    This is a tragedy. Not only has the city wasted money on painting bicycle pictures on a roadway that needs to be resurfaced anyway. (Let’s face it, Edmonds to Morgan got the short end of the stick on the city’s resurfacing project!) I agree that we need to share the road with bicyclists, but we need to be more aware of pedestrians as well. The city needs to take care of everyone who uses the streets, and pedestrians are the most vulnerable. I’d love to see the flashing lights in the pavement, or even the raised sidewalks like the put in the junction at these type of intersections too, but, we need to have the street repaved first. We don’t want our tax dollars wasted on something that will just be ripped up in the future. (The city is going to fix the rest of California Ave, right? I hope so.) And for goodness sakes drivers…SLOW DOWN!
    PS. Tree trimming would help for when the leaves are at their fullest…Oh, and that’s not “sap”. We refer to it as “bug-juice”. It’s actually aphid droppings, and yes it is a horrible mess to the sidewalks, streets, and unfortunately cars.

  • JEM September 23, 2008 (10:08 am)

    Given the number of times I have seen people nearly plowed down in the raised crosswalk at the Junction, I don’t know that it would help much. That one is raised, has huge flashing lights, is very frequently used and people still just zoom through without paying any attention. People definately need to slow down!

  • Stacey September 23, 2008 (10:39 am)

    I agree about the trees to an extent. I think some trimming would be helpful. My mom lives on that block. Unless you know that crosswalk is there, it is hard to see amongst the overgrown trees, wires and cars. It’s in an odd spot…. from one corner to the middle of a block. Oh and has anyone taken a look at the Crosswalk sign that’s there? It’s one of the old 1970’s models. Maybe a warning light prior to the crosswalk that blinks when someone pushes some sort of crosswalk button?? Like what they have on Admiral. Or maybe we should look at what the Arbor Heights/White Center area did and put blinking lights on the ground. I think if there was some sort of (more visual)warning that someone was crossing would be very helpful for everyone. Yes, drivers & Bikers should be responsible and pay attention to people potentailly crossing in a crosswalk but let’s face it, how many people are going to actually do that. There are ALOT of new residents migrating to the area that are not familuar with the crosswalk locations and there will probably be some more unfortunate events unless something is done. And GROOOOSSSSSSSS about the Aphid Droppings I thought it was sap!!!!!! It feels like it’s sprinkling when you walk by those trees….. Eeewww Yuck yuck yuck!!!!!!

  • michele September 23, 2008 (11:04 am)

    there are many safety features in place at that intersection. there aren’t any excuses, people need to slow down and pay attention, thats the bottom line.
    there are lights and flags and a sign and its a marked crosswalk. how far do we need to idiot proof things?
    people drive around going well over the speed limit with any number of added distractions going on inside their vehicles, in so much of a hurry to get where they’re going that other drivers and pedestrians aren’t even a consideration. they never even think about it, that they could hurt or kill someone in their haste to get wherever it is thats so important.
    i was walking to rite aid when the ambulance was leaving, the cashier told me it was one of our elderly neighbors that had just been killed in the intersection. the police had closed that section of road for investigation and traffic began re-routing down my street.
    completely unaware,(would they care anyways?) that a woman being killed by a car was causing the detour, people were speeding down our one lane with no visibility residential street at up to 40mph! people were ramping off of the unexpected dip in the street, scraping their oil pans upon landing!
    i called 911 and asked for some traffic officer presence before something bad happened again. we have tons of kids on our street, and pets, etc. fortunately police did respond and the traffic slowed before school got out.
    we don’t need more safety features or laws. everyone just needs to actually CARE. not too many do, not about more than their own little world. this applies to everything, everywhere.
    we all have to CARE.

  • JimmyG September 23, 2008 (11:28 am)

    Michele is so right.

    Make all the “dappled light, too many parked cars, can’t see the peds stepping out” excuses you want, but that is a well-marked crosswalk with just about every safety feature short of a light and it is the vehicle drivers responsibility to drive in a safe and prudent manner.

    It’s a crosswalk folks, a well MARKED crosswalk.

    My sympathies go out to my neighbors family.

  • GenHillOne September 23, 2008 (11:39 am)

    This is not I-35 folks. Until there is official word of negligence, it is a tragic accident. I’m a careful driver and like goodgraces, I worry about such an accident often. Something as simple as a sneeze could create a chain of events that will live with this driver, and obviously the pedestrian’s family, forever.

  • WSB September 23, 2008 (12:01 pm)

    And just so you all know, I have the request out to Seattle Police (via the media unit as the traffic investigators who handle things like these are not SW Precinct-based) to see if they can tell me whether there is any determination yet of accident vs. citation. Also any info on driver; and we may get the victim’s ID later today – the Medical Examiner releases a daily report in the early afternoon. Will post a separate update when we get any of that new info we’re working to procure – TR

  • WSB September 23, 2008 (2:31 pm)

    Posted the followup:
    https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=10742

  • Hippie September 23, 2008 (4:24 pm)

    I cross at this intersection daily and I agree, it’s a scary crosswalk (I don’t drive).

    Many times when a car has stopped for me to cross a car will come up and weave around the stopped car so they can continue through.

    I have to admit yelling at stupid drivers who do these things but I’m sure they’re oblivious. They’ve already sped by in a cloud of dust!! Now when I cross I usually peek around the stopped car to make sure some idiot isn’t going to speed through.

    Also, aren’t drivers supposed to remain stopped until the ped is no longer in the crosswalk? I rarely see this happen. Usually drivers try to speed through before the ped has made it even halfway through the crosswalk.

    I think blinking lights embedded in the street are an excellent idea!

  • miws September 23, 2008 (6:23 pm)

    Hippie, thanks for the heads up in warning about that type of situation.

    .

    I’m a careful pedestrian, and ever since almost getting hit in my teens crossing a four lane road where the car in the lane nearest me had stopped, and the idiot coming up from behind swung out into the left lane going that direction, (at a pretty good speed, this was the main highway through Silverdale at the time) I have been extra vigilant crossing those types of roads.

    .

    It has never occured to me that some driver would be stupid enough to do that in a two lane, plus two way left turn lane scenario.

    .

    To me, either situation is about the most idiotic and unforgivable thing a driver could do at a crosswalk. I mean, why the hell do you think a the car ahead of you is stopped at a crosswalk anyway, with no indication they are turning or parking?

    Mike

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