One car leaves a trail of destruction in North Delridge

No injuries were reported, but a trail of destruction was left behind by one driver along 26th SW in North Delridge late last night. This morning, you can still see not only damaged vehicles (photo below) but also where the car hit signs, from a traffic circle to a corner (above) [2:10 PM NOTE: In comments, neighbors say the traffic circle, with the bent sign in the background, bore the brunt of last night’s street damage, and the tire tracks etc. at right are from a previous crash].

One neighbor, Ruby, relates a firsthand account from her partner, who saw the whole thing:

She had just parked her car and was trying to retrieve her bag from the passenger side of the car when she heard a car coming down the street at a very high speed. (She guessed around 50 mph). She honked several times in an effort to say ‘slow down!’, and the car blew past her, launched itself over the traffic circle, wrecked into the Telecom truck, and hit a van on the opposite side of the street. She ran after the car trying to get a plate and thinking the car would eventually just stop because it had so much damage…. But it didn’t… it kept going and hit several more cars before the driver abandoned it somewhere south of the park.

A police search followed, ending with no indication of the driver having turned up (we have inquiries out again this morning to see if they ever did, and will add any information we get). Anyone who suffered damage is also urged to contact police, if they haven’t already. Ruby says they heard of at least four cars that were damaged; seven were mentioned by Chris, who tweeted about this last night.

ADDED 3:22 PM: According to Lt. Ron Smith from the Southwest Precinct, five vehicles in all have reported damage from this incident so far. He says that despite a search involving two K-9 teams, the driver and vehicle were not found, though a possible license plate was reported, so investigators are working on that.

17 Replies to "One car leaves a trail of destruction in North Delridge"

  • Colleen January 20, 2011 (11:51 am)

    My husband and I moved out of this neighborhood for this reason exactly. You can see our old house in the top picture. Every single day there were cars going excessive speeds down 26th. Our yard was vandalized, our car was broken into right in our own driveway. We got tired of living that close to Delridge.

  • jay January 20, 2011 (11:54 am)

    Unfortunately, that nice sign on the corner was knocked over some time ago (within the past few weeks). You can see the tire tracks in the picture, behind the sign.
    .
    This morning I noticed a new set of tire tracks that looked like a car had peeled out after going southbound around the traffic circle at 26th & Oregon.
    .
    I’m constantly amazed at how fast people drive on 26th. Scary.

  • JC January 20, 2011 (12:25 pm)

    I heard the crash from 6 houses away. When I went outside I could hear the truck pulling away from the scene and neighbors yelling “call 911”. I drove to the end of 26th this morning and saw the Green Toyota Pickup (extensive front end damage, driver side fender, wheel and tire was destroyed). I am amazed the driver made it that far with that much damage. And shocked that the driver got away – police were on the scence within five minutes of the first crash!

  • moxilot January 20, 2011 (12:47 pm)

    From what our neighbors could gather from witnessing the event, the offending car was actually a dark colored, smaller coupe such as a Civic or Acura. That pickup truck probably sustained damage from the out of control driver.

  • LR January 20, 2011 (1:36 pm)

    Sounds like a wild animal lucky there were no one out there at the time to get hit by it . Wow amazing

  • today??? January 20, 2011 (2:02 pm)

    I noticed the knocked down sign and tire tracks there last Saturday when I drove by.

    • WSB January 20, 2011 (2:09 pm)

      Residents have since clarified that the parking circle is what bears the brunt of last night’s damage (notice it in the background, I’m checking if our photographer got a closer angle).

  • holli January 20, 2011 (2:29 pm)

    I was wondering about this last night as I live about two blocks away on Delridge way. Funny that in five years on this block we have never had anything stolen or hit. It’s not Delridge the street that’s the problem. It’s letting folks get away with this type of behavior.

    START a block watch, get involved and help change this attitude that makes people think they can drive that way anywhere.

    Ok, stepping off my stage now. Seriously sorry for the folks suffering damage.

  • moxilot January 20, 2011 (2:44 pm)

    Two of the blocks of which most of the damage occurred DO have a block watch which has been very active today with emails and conversation regarding the event. In fact, our block watch came together years ago and got the traffic circle you see in the picture installed. I’d say this is a very involved group of neighbors, and unfortunately none of that mattered to this bonehead driver that didn’t even live on our blocks.

    That’s not to say block watches aren’t important, though! Several people who weren’t aware of the crash caught up to speed in a hurry this morning with the flurry of emails that went around. We definitely care about each other and are trying to find ways to keep our blocks safe from traffic hazards and otherwise.

  • MB January 20, 2011 (3:19 pm)

    Thanks Holli and Moxilot…you read my mind. I grew up right where this happened and you can almost see my house in the top picture as well (my family still lives there). There’s no denying that Delridge is no utopia, but crap like this happens EVERYWHERE! Sure, people drive too fast on this street, same as they do on the street I live on now in Highland Park, same as they do on Juneau where I used to live, same as they do on 35th, same as they do on Fauntleory…shall I go on? The thing about people who drive like idiots is that they drive like idiots everywhere. Who knows where this person came from, I think I read that he or she ditched the car in South Park. Anyway, I could go on and on, as this subject irritates me and tends to make me defensive. The Delridge neighborhood ain’t Mayberry, but it ain’t Compton either people.
    Trying to figure out who you are Colleen, somehow I don’t think I ever knew you (which surprises me since we know most of the neighbors right there). Sorry your property was vandalized and that it left a bad taste in your mouth about this area, but it’s just as likely to happen wherever you live now. Maybe we’re just lucky, but in the 30+ years we’ve been on this street, we have never had a thing stollen. There have been plenty of “incidents” over the years (again, just like the “incidents” I read about all over WS), but there are fantastic people on this street and in this neighborhood. It’s like I tell my family on Vashon, criminals take ferries too. You can’t hide from this stuff.
    So glad no one was hurt, so bummed hard earned property was damaged, super glad I was not parked there last night like I often am, and I hope they catch this moron!
    Keep up the good work my fellow Delridge/Cottage Grove neighbors! Slowly but surely hard work is paying off. Don’t let incidents like this define our hood, I don’t.

  • CaroleI January 20, 2011 (4:08 pm)

    Thanks MB, you spoke my mind.

  • KJB January 20, 2011 (4:52 pm)

    Thanks MB – I knew I could count on you to come up with a nice way to comment in regards to Colleen’s comment. Yes, we have lived in our house right there on 26th since 1978 – it is home, a wonderful neighborhood with wonderful people making a difference and caring about the place they call home. I love Delridge and am proud to call it home – also proud to have you as my daughter MB:)

  • k2 January 20, 2011 (5:10 pm)

    I like our neighborhood 2, but 26th is a race track! especially south of brandon because there are no traffic calming devices, I live 4 houses south from 26th/Brandon and cars hit 40-45 by the time the reach our house.

    And what is more dangerous is there are no sidewalks!

  • MB January 20, 2011 (5:19 pm)

    Haha…ah gee mom :) Glad at least one person other than my own mother agrees with me…thanks Carolel.

  • CitizenR January 20, 2011 (6:31 pm)

    Thanks again MB! You are right! Bad things happen everywhere! It seems when people THINK a place is considered “Undesireable” the problems are always related! I’ve lived in the area for about 45 years and actually had a pretty safe and happy existance! Great Neighbors too!

  • Melinda January 20, 2011 (6:48 pm)

    Agree, MB. Well said!

  • evie January 20, 2011 (10:17 pm)

    Thanks MB and Moxilot! I am a relatively new resident of 26th Ave SW (2 years in May). This neighborhood has fulfilled my highest hopes as a new homeowner. From a friendly, diverse group of neighbors to an active block watch program to ice cream socials, I am constantly impressed by those who live around me. It is really horrible that this happened, but I really think we can turn it into an opportunity to benefit the neighborhood.

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