(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, substituted 6:46 pm for photo that was here since 6:11 pm)
ORIGINAL 6 PM REPORT: Big response for a “heavy rescue” at 48th/Dakota (map). Word from Christopher Boffoli, who’s just gotten to the scene, is that a vehicle’s gone over an embankment and the driver may have to be extricated (which is what “heavy rescue” usually means). (Thanks to Sheri for early word of this.) 6:04 PM: Scanner says one person’s been extricated and will go to the hospital via Medic (unit) 32. Many of the emergency units have been canceled. 6:19 PM: The rest of the emergency units have been cleared to leave. From Katie, who’s been to the scene, the description of the “embankment” is, “steep embankment into someone’s back yard. Sidewalk, then steep drop off into yard and from alley.” Katie also sent this photo:
At the scene, a tow crew’s getting ready to bring the car up the slope. [Added 6:55 pm – this shot from Christopher shows the perspective from the street – you can see how low the aforementioned house sits]
6:28 PM: The car’s up and the area’s open to traffic again. 6:42 PM: Side note – As Denise reminds us via Facebook, this area also had a major crash response a week and a half ago, on the day when West Seattle had 4 notable crashes in the span of 90 minutes (here’s our story from that afternoon). No word so far exactly what led to tonight’s crash, nor do we know the condition of the person taken to the hospital. 7:20 PM: Summary from Christopher, who was at the scene within minutes – this is what he learned from authorities and witnesses:
Single male driver came down Dakota at a high rate of speed. Struck a stationary vehicle. Neighbors heard the crash and ran out to help. One of them happened to be a nurse at HMC. The man was unconscious but the car was still running and in gear. They banged on the window to wake him but he was unresponsive. The car ended up rolling backward across the street and went down a steep embankment. Fire crews tore the roof off the car to extract the still unconscious man who is being transported to HMC.
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