Update: Car overturns after collision at 35th SW/Webster

(replaced original cameraphone photo with this picture, 9:27 am)
Thanks to James for the call on this (206-293-6302 any time): We’re at the scene of a “heavy rescue” call in the 7500 block of 35th SW (map): A car overturned just north of John’s Corner Deli (left background of our cameraphone photo); traffic is getting by, but slowly. 9:04 AM UPDATE: Police at the scene tell us they are still sorting out exactly how this happened; a tow truck is at the scene now to right the flipped car before getting it out of here. We’re told that car’s driver was taken to the hospital; it’s believed to have been on Webster, trying to turn onto 35th, when it collided with a silver Toyota – that car was not as badly damaged and there’s no word of anyone from the Toyota having to go to the hospital. 9:27 AM UPDATE: The scene is clear and traffic’s back to normal. 11:20 AM NOTE: A source confirms the Toyota’s driver was not seriously hurt. No updates on the other driver’s condition so far. ADDED 12:32 PM: Video as the flipped car was pulled back to right-side-up by the tow crew:

B. Duvall May 19, 2009 (9:25 am)

That silver car had to have been going pretty fast in order to flip the red car. I hope all who were involved are ok. I just don’t understand how hard it is to slow down in general. 35th Ave. is 35 MPH not 50+ MPH people. All of that could have been avoided.

WSB May 19, 2009 (9:30 am)

We covered a similar flip 2 months ago at Delridge/Henderson (odd aside, note the car’s almost the same color):
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=14583

coffee May 19, 2009 (9:37 am)

that corner is horrible for crashes. And yes, the speed limit on 35th is 35, the other day I was traveling north and someone flew by me and that sign that tells you how fast you are going flashed 56 MPH…..

Aaron May 19, 2009 (9:48 am)

Duvall, you’d be surprised what a 35MPH collision is capable of. Our Toyota collided with a Saturn several years ago on 35th. The impact was minimal for us, but the Saturn was spun around 180° and had the rear axle snapped off.

Mike May 19, 2009 (9:53 am)

This is not a high impact crash, at 50mph you’d see that door crushed way beyond that. That looks to be an early 90s import wagon, which has virtually no side impact reinforcement. That’s barely a tap on the side of that vehicle.

People question the person driving straight, I question the person turning in front of oncoming traffic. SPD will sort out who’s at fault though.

Hope everyone is okay.

Kevin May 19, 2009 (11:56 am)

35th in general seems pretty bad for crashes. My wife was almost hit over the weekend while turning onto Thistle from 35th by some guy who apparently didn’t see the red light right in front of him. I can only hope he has a ticket in the mail as the light at that intersection is now camera enforced. There was a fatal accident at that same intersection a few years back as well.

Anyways, hope everyone’s ok…

christopherboffoli May 19, 2009 (12:13 pm)

Here is another car flip (also on 35th) that we covered back in February:

https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=14267

WSB May 19, 2009 (12:18 pm)

Forgot about that one. You were on the scene before P and I even heard about it. Three flips in three months, and everybody survived!

B-Squared May 19, 2009 (12:19 pm)

Why so many flipped cars recently in west seattle? and these are residential streets for the most part (not highway/freeway). Do we have less gravity in west seattle?

rockergirl May 19, 2009 (12:54 pm)

“Why so many flipped cars” – SPEED obviously plays a big part in this and possibly inattentiveness by drivers. Crazy – hope the guy who rolled over is ok. This is in our neighborhood and people drive way to fast in this area – guess it’s time to make 35th one way each way with a turn lane in the middle like all the other main roads have been (or will be soon) for safety’s sake.

Artsy May 19, 2009 (1:04 pm)

Having lived right around that corner for 7 years, I’m surprised by this sort of collision. There’s a light that controls N/S bound lanes, as well as E/W bound. If the vehicle was trying to turn onto 35th, they would have to be doing so on a green light – unless they were completely ignoring the light and trying to turn as if it were an uncontrolled intersection. Thus, assuming they were paying attention and trying to make a legal turn, the other driver (assuming they were traveling on 35th) must have been running a red light. That seems more plausible to me since people treat 35th like a freeway. I’ve made that turn a number of times with too many close calls to count, all because northbound/southbound drivers on 35th take a “me first” approach to driving and run the reds. Regardless of who is at fault, I hope everyone involved will be okay. Please everyone, slow down a bit, pay attention, and put down your handhelds while driving. Just like the signs on 35th say, “Imagine the Impact You Could Make.”

Paul in Gatewood May 19, 2009 (2:15 pm)

I’ve heard it called I-35th before – people really do speed on it and take some real risks, especially making left turns into oncoming traffic. I feel like I’m playing Frogger sometimes when I’m trying to cross the street to catch the bus in the morning. Slow down!

christopherboffoli May 19, 2009 (3:37 pm)

I wonder if there are more car flips in West Seattle or if it just seems like there are more because we’re always on the ball in covering them.

I can’t say I’ve ever lived in another place where I’ve known this to be so common. Though if the average episode of the TV show ChiPs is any indication, cars over-turning is a routine occurrence. Apparently it usually happens in slow motion too.

KateMcA May 19, 2009 (5:09 pm)

I’m glad everyone is ok. As someone who has to back out of a driveway onto 35th everyday, I really wish people would slow down (not that speed was necessarily a factor here, but I bet it is in 90% of the collisions that happen on 35th).

Haines May 19, 2009 (6:32 pm)

To all: I was driving the silver toyota northbound on 35th, in the right hand (curb) lane, going about 30. The maroon car was turning left at the light (onto Webster), coming southbound on 35th. I am guessing he did not stop or look for oncoming traffic. The police cited him.

Fortunately, the medics sounded like he is going to be ok; I have been having that vision in my head all day! Yes, everyone drives far too fast on 35th. But not me.