In case you were wondering: What happened on 99

We don’t have a lot of details but several people have asked what was happening along southbound 99, with a heavy police response, during the evening commute home to West Seattle. SPD media unit Det. Jeff Kappel tells us a pedestrian was hit – not sure what the person was doing on foot on the freeway. Injuries are described as serious; that’s all the details they have for now. 9:38 PM UPDATE: SPDBlotter has more information now: The victim, now said to have life-threatening injuries, is a 41-year-old man, who was walking across 99 – six lanes with a divider at that point – west to east, when a Honda Pilot hit him. Full writeup here.

changingtimes January 14, 2010 (7:44 pm)

did it have to do with the stopped train? i drive by every night and see the people running to there elaborate shelters they made in that little area where the top brige thing goes up…

Dan'a January 14, 2010 (7:47 pm)

We passed this on our way home right after it happened. There was a man in a green jacket laying beside the road, obviously seriously injured. A dark red cadillac was stopped right beside him and several cars were stopped ahead of it with people coming back to help. It looked really dreadful. I cannot stop thinking about that man and hoping he is ok. I am sure the person who hit him is a mess as I am a mess just from seeing the aftermath.
My thoughts are with them both.

Aa January 14, 2010 (8:14 pm)

That dark red cadillac belongs to me. My daughter and I were driving home from swimming practice when we saw ahead of us in the road what looked at first like a sleeping bag. We slowed, and then were horrified to discover that in fact it was a man who had been hit by at least one car. We stopped and tried to angle the car so that we could protect him from getting hit by more cars. He was still breathing, so we covered him with a green blanket and waited for police. The people you saw walking back were actually the ones who had hit him in the first place. They told me that they didn’t see him, he had just darted out in front of them.

Dan\'a January 14, 2010 (8:18 pm)

Aa,
I am so sorry you had to see all that! It seems like it would have been impossible for anyone to see him in time to stop. I am so glad you stopped to protect him. Please let us know if you find anything else out about his condition. I am so glad you were there to do the things you did.

alki resident January 14, 2010 (9:33 pm)

I too was in that early backup when police started to get to the scene,I passed by after the last firetruck arrived.The man wasnt moving and looked bad, from what I could see its the same guy I see crossing from the tracks to the shelter under the viaduct pretty regularly on my way home from work.Not a good place to commute at such a fast speed when homeless people are just feet away and possibly intoxicated.Visibilty isnt good with rainy weather like this either.Ive been wondering how long this camp will be allowed to stay there.Seems like the boxes for homes are growing and getting larger.Not a safe area with heavy traffic and trains on each side of them.I do hope this man makes it and can find a safer area to go.

WSB January 14, 2010 (9:40 pm)

Just added a little more to the story – SPDBlotter published an update that has a few additional facts (the victim’s age, etc.) – TR

Heather January 14, 2010 (10:13 pm)

my dad was in that traffic too and was shocked to see people just driving by. he stopped his truck in the lane to block traffic and keep people from just going around the man and he got out to make sure the guy was still breathing (he was) and called 911. hope he makes it…

Aa January 15, 2010 (7:21 am)

Heather — your dad pulled his truck up behind my caddy, forming a little safe pocket between our vehicles. We were both on hold for a bit with 911, which was frustrating. I’m grateful he was willing to stop and help.

Heather January 15, 2010 (8:29 am)

yah… he was really surprised that nobody was stopping to help. granted, he was only about 6 cars behind the one that hit the man, but people were just ignoring the body in the road. it’s surprising how selfish people can be sometimes…

rico January 15, 2010 (8:33 am)

So sad for sure, but in reality the State is allowing people to build shelters under the raised portion of the viaduct just where it leaves grade level. An obvious hazard, the only way to get to the location is crossing 99. The State is liable here for doing nothing about the illegal trespassing on their property.

Bob January 15, 2010 (8:56 am)

The only person responsible here is the one that tried to cross 3 lanes in heavy rain at night. I almost hit a guy crossing along there a couple of months ago. It was just a matter of time. I really feel sorry for the poor person that hit him. I sickens me that they need to deal with the pain because of this mans irresponsible behavior.

alki_2008 January 15, 2010 (9:33 am)

Interesting quote from the SPB Blotter: The pedestrian’s presence on the highway may have been a contributing factor to the collision. Uhm, “a contributing factor”? Duh!
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In any case, I’m curious what those that espoused the “pedestrians always have the right-of-way” have to say about this incident? After all, it’s a freeway/highway. People should NOT be trying to cross it. It’s unfortunate for both the driver and the walker, and it could’ve been easily avoided if the walker didn’t try to cross a roadway that is obviously not supposed to be traversed on foot.

Michelle January 15, 2010 (10:18 am)

Just the other night I saw three men standing at the end of the concrete rail – they seemed to be looking to cross over and underneath the northbound side of the viaduct.

I was terrified just seeing them there – I can’t imagine what the drivers felt having hit someone. What a horrible situation!

I was also stuck in that traffic last night and saw the cops leading one man to patrol car. I’m assuming they did a sweep to grab anyone else in those camps.

Mike January 17, 2010 (1:10 am)

Sad to hear what the cause was. Hope the guy who was hit will be okay and those involved in the crash are okay. Traumatic for everyone involved.
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For those that drive along that stretch, please do not gawk at the scene with cop lights flashing. Stay alert and move along. Looky-loos caused a backup past the battery street tunnel. What is usually a 15 minute trip home, took 45 minutes. It was free and clear moving traffic 10 feet after the scene. We actually saw some guy nearly hit a motorcyclist when he (guy in car) was gawking at the scene rather than paying attention to traffic flow.

Sorry, comment time is over.