Close call in North Admiral, and a thanks for Good Samaritans

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Francine e-mailed to share the story of something that happened Tuesday because of the road work shown in our photo above (taken Wednesday) at the far north end of California SW – it’s part warning, and part thanks for Good Samaritans – read on:

I don’t know if this anyone reading the Blog would be interested, but I injured myself yesterday because of construction going on at the north end of California near Hamilton viewpoint. Other pedestrians should know about it. I’m not sure if the construction is still going on [editor’s note, as of Wed. pm, it was]. I also wanted to send a heartfelt thanks to two men who rescued me. I didn’t get their names.

Inspired by the glorious sunshine (Tuesday), I decided to go out for my first run in a week or so. Along my usual route down to Alki from the Admiral district where I live, construction on California St. COMPLETELY blocked the sidewalk. There was accommodation for cars, letting them through periodically, but NONE for us lowly pedestrians. As there is NO sidewalk across the street — just the lawn which is part of Hamilton Viewpoint, I was forced to leap over the short metal barrier around the lawn. There was no advanced warning that the sidewalk was closed until I got there. Yes, I should have just gone back. But getting down to that end of Alki would have required a detour of many blocks.

I made it over the short metal barrier, cut across the lawn, but on the way out I mis-judged and lacerated my shin as I leapt over the barrier. Blood splattered everywhere. Two gentlemen (my good Samaritans) sitting in their truck saw me cream myself, swooped me up, got me quickly through the construction barricade, and drove me to my car. They had offered to take me to the ER, but my boyfriend was able to take me to the Urgent Care center. I now have a deep v-shaped laceration which required 10 stitches. Skin was pushed back like a cheese grater! You could see the tendon beneath, which thankfully was not torn. I’m seriously thinking of raising a stink with the city! Had I known a few blocks away that there was no pedestrian walkway ahead, I would have taken another route!

Wondering what the road work is about? We don’t have official information, but as we drove by, we saw crews had a fairly sizable gash opened in the road – and we recalled this story from last January, involving a deep pothole there.

Jim December 3, 2009 (7:19 am)

Accept some responsibility for yourself – with a little attention and the cooperation of the road crew we managed to safely and easily get ourselves and our three little kids (all under age 10 and on bicycles) past the construction.

Don’t impose an additional burden on taxpayers by raising a “stink” with the city because you didn’t want to walk a few extra blocks.

John December 3, 2009 (8:11 am)

Ouch….the City of Seattle adheres to the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devises (MUTCD). The contractor is required to adhere to all requirements as outlined within the manual. There should have been signs stating the sidewalk was closed…

WSB December 3, 2009 (8:27 am)

There was a sign when we went by yesterday … at least facing south, coming back up the hill. – TR

Person December 3, 2009 (9:14 am)

What Jim said.

Just sayin' December 3, 2009 (9:39 am)

I’m a full-time pedestrian and jogger. I have navigated many hairy situations in my jog path – sidewalk or no sidewalk, construction or no, without feeling the need to leap barriers in dangerous situations. You just slow down and even stop if you encounter a hairy situation. You are the only one to blame for your stitches and new scar. Maybe when you look at that scar, you’ll think of what you should have done. Stop – be patient with delays and walk through the construction mess instead of plowing right through and leaping metal barriers. I hate when people make a “stink” with the city when there would be nothing to make a “stink” about if you’d just used your head.

Living in West Seattle Since 1985 December 3, 2009 (10:16 am)

I walk my dogs at Hamilton all the time! We Love it there! When you go in the North side of the drive way there is a nice little grassy path down to the “lower feild with the Giant tree” as I call it. When you get to the bottom of the Lower feild the barrior stops and there is a 4 or 5 foot openning for people to walk through and cross the street. That way people can just cut accross and not have to walk around. You just have to look around a little more closely to see those entrance and exit points. I am sorry you got hurt. I hope you feel better fast!

Observer December 3, 2009 (11:44 am)

I am pleased to hear about good samaritans in West Seattle. We are lucky in this neighborhood. I ditto what Jim said. No one forced this person to leap over the barrier. Don’t play the victim, own your part in causing your injury and the healing will happen faster.

Francine December 4, 2009 (8:38 am)

Thanks for the comments. I hope this alerted others to the construction hazard at this location. I do “own” it, admitted I should have gone back. Couldn’t figure out a path through the mess. I take responsibility. But I do believe the city has some responsibility in providing a warning and/or signs for a pedestrian detour. I don’t see any harm in airing my grievance with the city. That’s what I intended by my comment about making a “stink”. I’m not suing anybody — life is too short for that. And for those who seem to feel my gash and pain is justified, that’s not very nice!

WSB December 4, 2009 (8:46 am)

I haven’t added this to the story yet, Francine, but SDOT read this and checked into it – the project is apparently Seattle Public Utilities and my SDOT contact believes they’ll be sending someone out to take a look at the scene – TR