West Seattle snow and ice: Is this your car?

Jeanne sent that picture with this:

What’s with this car? It has been stranded since Sunday night on the hill on 37th Ave SW (cross is Alaska) – Fairmount neighborhood. The sanding truck FINALLY came this AM to sand the road, but could only do 1/2 the hill because this car is still there. No one has come for it! Can the police tow it? Or move it at least to the side?!

It’s a blue Kia Spectra, License plate: (starts with 521).

With all the snow that is due to hit us again tomorrow, we need to get this car moved so the sanding truck can get to the rest of this hill! People are trying to navigate around it!

If you are the owner – please come claim your car. You can drive down the hill now!

sharonn December 16, 2008 (5:36 pm)

Yes, please come claim your car! I need access to my car tonight, before the next storm arrives. The road is sanded and should be no issue for you to drive down the hill and open up the street to residents. If you know who owns this car please tell them.

WSB December 16, 2008 (5:39 pm)

Anyone in the area – confirm if you see police there? I just heard the tail end of a West Seattle police call (William unit) that sounded EXACTLY like this scenario, but I missed the head end with the address.

Westside4life December 16, 2008 (5:40 pm)

Seems like a dangerous spot to leave it if it gets icy and snowy tonight…an act of God might cause it to accidentally slide it down the hill. If it happens, please post a video for the rest of us to see.

Tim B. December 16, 2008 (5:45 pm)

I’ve called the non-emergency police number and talked to several different people. They say that the owner has been notified and they have promised to have the car towed. This car is parked in front of our house (that’s my brown passat in the photo) and we can’t get our 4wd vehicle out of the driveway. We have a five month old daughter and if there were an emergency, my wife would not be able to get out unless she drove across our lawn and flower beds (which many cars have done today). Thanks to this genius, my uphill neighbors are stuck unless they were fortunate enough to get their vehicles to the bottom of the hill before the snow came. It’s beyond me how the police can just let this car sit there for almost 48 hours now.

Tim B. December 16, 2008 (5:46 pm)

WSB- I just talked to the police and they were dispatching while I was on the phone, but the operator came back and told me the owner had promised to have it towed.

GenHillOne December 16, 2008 (5:47 pm)

Ohhh….I just got it. You’re talking about the car in the middle of the road?! Wowza. It looks like the tail lights are on in the photo, so I thought you meant the car on the curb – which is a drag, but not a crisis. Yes, call the police, you’ve been WAY more generous than I would have been!

sharonn December 16, 2008 (5:59 pm)

There is an issue of safety considering directly across the steet from Tim and next to my home, our neighbor’s due date for their first child is TODAY!

booger December 16, 2008 (6:17 pm)

Push it a bit onto the ice, and It’ll slide down the hill nice and easy. :)

iggy December 16, 2008 (6:45 pm)

In Rome, people park their cars all over the sidewalk and every place imaginable. On more than one occasion I’ve seen eight or so guys pick up a car that was blocking someone and literally move it out of the way !!! Of course, it’s those tiny Fiats. Seriously, I’m amazed that a car that is blocking a street is not towed by the police. Who knows when the owner will get around to it. Have you tried calling the nearest fire station. They might be able to get it towed, since it would block access for fire trucks on the street.

Rob December 16, 2008 (7:19 pm)

I say we should have a bonfire with it and roast marshmellows.They must be to embrassed by it to own up to it.

cruiser December 16, 2008 (7:31 pm)

TimB,

I’m sure if you were to back out of your drive and SLAP it accidently it’d move:). Not advocating such action,just saying..

sharonn December 16, 2008 (7:48 pm)

Oh well, now we have an identical scenario with another car 100 feet farther up the hill from this one. Official word, no rescue for either car tonight.

Jeanne December 16, 2008 (7:59 pm)

After I posted this I filled out the “abandoned car” report on the seattle police debt website. This guy has left this car there for 3 days and hasn’t cared to move it. The police SHOULD move it! It’s dangerous!

Jenna, Suzy and I talked about pushing it down the hill today…but of course now that they sanded it, it won’t go! Maybe all of us neighbors can get out there – break into it – release the emergency brake and let it roll!

This is SO dangerous and yes – thanks to this idiot, the upper 1/2 of the street didn’t get sanded and people are driving on the sidewalks to get around it! Unreal! So rude! Promises promises. This guy doesn’t care one ioda or he’d be here by now! I seriously can’t believe the police aren’t moving it. They should write a HEFTY ticket and tow it and make the guy pay for the inconvenience he has created for the people that live on this street. And yes – one who’s baby is due any minute now! They need to get out!

There IS the firestation at the bottom of the hill on 38th, maybe we can get them to get the police to move it.

BTW, it’s 8pm and it’s STILL there!

GenHillOne December 16, 2008 (8:03 pm)

Who DOES that??

GenHillOne December 16, 2008 (8:06 pm)

And Tim, can you move your car? It was sketchy before, but now if there’s a second car, the odds are higher that one or both will come down into yours.

Tim B. December 16, 2008 (8:15 pm)

GenHillOne- I was able to move my car this morning. It’s parked down on the flats. I’ll probably get towed or ticketed! LOL.

Jeanne December 16, 2008 (8:19 pm)

I haven’t met the woman who is pregnant – but if they can’t get out of their driveway, they can come borrow my car if they have to get to the hospital! This car is to the left of my driveway and it did get sanded to the right and I can get out.

Or Tim, you can park in my driveway behind me so you’re off the street if you need. I don’t have to be anywhere in the AM.

Unbelievable! I can’t believe there’s another car! I think though that someone took down the yellow baracade tape so they probably drove down the ice death trap ramp from H*ll.

Jeanne December 16, 2008 (8:22 pm)

OK – so the 2nd car got stranded trying to get around the 1st car.

This guy needs a serious beating IF and when he comes to get his car!

Nikka December 16, 2008 (8:27 pm)

Once I parked my car in my usual spot, only to come back and find it missing. Apparently some nearby construction workers needed access and just picked up my car and moved it. My car is a Toyota, so I imagine it could be done with some strong people and really good boots.

Jeanne December 16, 2008 (8:33 pm)

this is a Kia. It can be moved I bet by some guys w/ some muscles. maybe we can recruit some firefighters!

Jeffro December 16, 2008 (9:28 pm)

iggy – is this what you’re talking about? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLccCsTGNP4

p December 16, 2008 (9:35 pm)

ok, that just takes kahonies to do that. They could have at least “slid” down the hill. I say ram it. I am not advocating being mean, but if you wait for the city, it will be July. I have regular parking issues in the business zone in front of my business and the city does nothing to enforce it. And for almost a year I have the same person parking in the 2 hour zone all day long. The city says “we cannot enforce every area”….

JH December 16, 2008 (9:58 pm)

Jeanne, if you recruit firefighters, can you let me know? I’ll walk miles to see that.

WTF December 16, 2008 (10:00 pm)

Ah. Attempting to drive your car up an ice laden road and no where to go. Albeit awfully irritating, I will (for once) give the driver the benefit of the doubt and believe they left it there fearing it would slide into the car parked below to the right or slide further down the hill. Tis better to be safe than sorry. Unlike the jackass in the Lexus, barreling down 35th this a.m. as if the roads were dry and clear of all traffic; moving much faster than the posted speed limit of 35. The rear light of the photo looks to be on; odd isn’t it? Owner: next time at lease leave a note when you leave your car! P.S. Booger…Hilarious!

Jeanne December 16, 2008 (10:22 pm)

The tail light does look on, but it’s not. It’s just the reflection off the snow/sun and the angle I took the photo.

You’d think the police would want the $$…they didn’t even ticket it. yet. He should get a HEFTY fine.

And to leave it one day is one thing, but 3? That’s just rude. And doesn’t he need it? I’d be worried it would get crashed into or vandalized if it were my car.

Something’s fishy….

;-)

oh and KF – aka JH: I’ll keep you posted on the firefighters! ha! :)

celeste17 December 16, 2008 (11:01 pm)

I was thinking that the fire station is just at the end of the block and maybe you could bribe the firemen with some home cooking. I know I take cookies to them every year in honor of my Dad. So maybe you could go and say here is dinner if you would move this car that is blocking me I would really appreciate it. :)

Cheese for the Whine December 17, 2008 (12:59 am)

Why would anyone think it is ever okay to abandon their vehicle in the middle of any street, avenue or highway for any reason? Does this person live on the block or was boy/gal genius taking a shortcut through the neighborhood?

Why doesn’t the owner step up and get his car out of the street instead of paying a tow truck? I’m sure someone on the block would be more than willing to move it for them.

Step up to the plate, slacker and take care of your problem!

Mollis December 17, 2008 (8:29 am)

Haha Jeffro – that’s a classic!

The freshmaker!!!

SD December 17, 2008 (9:03 am)

So is the car still there this morning?

sharonn December 17, 2008 (9:23 am)

Oh yes. Not sure for how long as cars are dodging it coming up the hill and down the hill. Bring me the key, I’ll move it for you.

GenHillOne December 17, 2008 (9:33 am)

sharonn, I’d call the police again since it’s calm out there for now; they may have more time to deal with it…that’s just plain ridiculous

Jeanne December 17, 2008 (9:45 am)

Yup. It’s still there. We think it must be stolen or something. There a big dent in the front too. I’m sure someone crashed it and left it after it spun out there Sunday night and doesn’t want to face the music. It’s locked. A neighbor and I just checked it. Or we’d let out the emergency brake and move it ourselves! There is a REASON this guy isn’t claiming it. Who leaves their car like that? It NEEDS to get moved today before the next storm hits!

However, making the firefighters dinner is a nice thought Celeste. I AM single! ;-)

SD December 17, 2008 (10:15 am)

Wow. I agree, definitely call the police again. Given that it’s in the middle of the street, I don’t see how the police could justify leaving it there any longer–the owner has had a chance to make good on their promise to tow it and has not done so.

Mary T December 17, 2008 (10:42 am)

We live just off Edmunds and were wondering what the deal was with that car! Unbelieveable.

Jeanne December 17, 2008 (10:49 am)

I just called the police and reported it again. I had first contacted the ‘abandoned vehicle’ hotline at 206.684.8763, who upon telling them this car is in the middle of the street and blocking traffic, transferred me to the police. I’m quite sure this is at least the 5th call into the police regarding this matter. I told them people are trying to navigate around this and it’s dangerous and it MUST be moved before the next snow storm hits today!

Utter insanity! I’ve never seen anything like this and such a lack of regard or response from the city/police. The owner should be fined heavily for putting people’s safety at risk for days on end.

GenHillOne December 17, 2008 (10:49 am)

Jeanne, I wondered about it being stolen, but didn’t someone say the owner had been notified? In all honesty, that sounds like a doubtful scenario too. Either way, it’s fishy. You haven’t heard anyone knocking from inside the trunk have you? oy. Hope you get some resolution soon.

sharonn December 17, 2008 (10:59 am)

The sun is out, it’s 35 degrees, perfect conditions to execute the Okie-Pokie manuever. Just enough gas to jump the ice hump at the end of the driveway and get the car turned parallel to the curb. Step on the gas and reach the first dry patch and continue in that fashion. Worse case, that’s where the Okie-Pokie comes into play, I’m headed down the hill instead, one can simply lightly tap their tire against the curb as you descend while occassionally tapping the brake. Years of practice in Oklahoma helps.

celeste17 December 17, 2008 (11:14 am)

I would just break the glass and move the darn car. Who cares about a broken window when they have left it for several days.

Jeanne December 17, 2008 (11:29 am)

I actually thought about that. But then of course, I, or whoever did that, would get arrested for breaking in and attempting to steal it!

Total incompetency I tell you!

I do wonder if we were to push it with a car if it’d move.

It is BEYOND me though that the police DO NOT CARE!

And I it was Tim who called and they said the owenr had been contacted…but who knows if that’s true. Something is DEF fishy!

celeste17 December 17, 2008 (12:18 pm)

What if a rock where to accidentally hit the window and break it? It could be a ricochet from a passing car?

Jeanne December 17, 2008 (1:45 pm)

OK! FINALLY! The police/parking enforcement was just here – ticketed the car and the tow truck is on it’s way. YAHOO!!! She said the guy said he’d take care of it last night but obviously, he didn’t, so no excuses now. They gave him a window of time I guess and apparently he doesn’t care. So…thank God, if it does snow tonite, this bozo will be gone.
Persistency works peeps! :)

hilly December 17, 2008 (1:56 pm)

Miracles do happen. The car has finally been removed.

Franci December 17, 2008 (2:31 pm)

Wow 3 days, I was ticketed and tagged for towing (fortunately I got it moved before THAT happened). My car was at the curb in a legal spot, not blocking anything. It was on the wrong side of the street, but it was sitting on a sheet of ice, facing up hill. It took them about 25 hours to ticket my car. I’m shocked that they let that car sit there for 3 days.

SD December 17, 2008 (2:32 pm)

Finally!

WSB December 17, 2008 (2:36 pm)

Anyone snap a photo of the removal in progress? If so, please send!
editor@westseattleblog.com

Jeanne December 17, 2008 (7:10 pm)

no. I talked to the police officer and thanked her for finally coming and ticketing it and was listening for the tow truck as I WANTED to photograph it (haha) but I missed it – darn it all! :)

Brandon December 18, 2008 (10:20 am)

You people are unbelievable. All this anger over a car stuck on a hill. I suppose you’d have rather they back down the hill and t-bone some innocent driver/ped on Alaska. So much hate.

34th and Thistle December 18, 2008 (12:19 pm)

“All this anger over a car stuck on a hill. I suppose you’d have rather they back down the hill and t-bone some innocent driver/ped on Alaska.”

Actually, I think everyone would rather have them back down the hill slowly, carefully, and safely, which can be done, maybe with someone spotting for them vs. leaving their car in the middle of the street for three days. THREE DAYS.

Brandon December 18, 2008 (2:55 pm)

No, I think it sounded like they wanted to: vandalize it, break a window, push it recklessly into someone else’s street/yard/intersection, give a serious beating (don’t want to point out the person and upset WSB), and burn it. Yes, the Kind and Gentle West Seattle haters. The moderates just wanted it towed and ticketed :)

Sorry, comment time is over.