Close call on West Seattle Bridge: ‘Flying door’ hits car

The dent under the headlight in that photo is where a “flying door” hit Meredith‘s car about an hour and a half ago on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, just before the “official bus lane” begins. It likely would have done much worse, if she hadn’t seen it coming in time for evasive action – she told WSB by e-mail, “It was set to come down on my open sunroof. I slowed enough that its first touchdown was front of my car.” Then, she says, she saw the “house door, hollow core” shattered by a black SUV nearby. She and her little boy are OK, but shaken up. Meredith thinks the debris might have come from an “unsecured load, perhaps on a westbound vehicle,” but is hoping that perhaps somebody saw something on the bridge that will help police investigate (she was awaiting a callback as of a short time ago).

Shelley April 20, 2011 (3:43 pm)

So glad to read you’re okay. Unsecured loads!! Why don’t people secure their loads I don’t get it. Let’s not forget what happened to my friend Maria on 405 a few years back.

http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Accident-took-woman-s-sight-but-not-her-vision-1158886.php

Cover your loads!

WSB April 20, 2011 (3:48 pm)

Thanks for the link, Shelley; I was in TV when that happened and the extensive coverage was the first thing that I thought of when Meredith e-mailed about her close call. – TR

toddinwestwood April 20, 2011 (4:16 pm)

if this doesnt scare the bejeezus outta you, then I dont know what will:

http://jalopnik.com/#!5789082/the-scariest-car-crash-ever-caught-on-video-was-real

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOhgMAOrp0c&feature=player_embedded

Irukandji April 20, 2011 (4:21 pm)

No debris spotted westbound at 4:15 PM. Are door fragments still sitting in eastbound lanes?

Diane April 20, 2011 (4:36 pm)

Maria’s Law, from her tragedy, came a new law:
“Washington State Law (RCW 46.61.655) “Maria’s Law,” a law was named for Maria Federici who was severely injured by an entertainment center that fell off an open trailer while she was driving on Interstate 405, has made it a crime to fail to secure a load that results in bodily injury. Conviction could bring up to one year in jail and $5,000 in fines. The person injured would also have access to a state compensation fund for crime victims.”
http://www.wsp.wa.gov/information/releases/2010_archive/mr051810.htm
~
If you have witnessed or been a victim of a loss load, you can report loss of loads on the WSP web site. By providing us with detailed information about the area(s) you are concerned with, the WSP can then focus enforcement on areas in which loss of loads are occurring.
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Report here: http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/escload.php

con cuidado April 20, 2011 (4:44 pm)

Me too! so sad and frustrating to hear people are stupid and careless enough to drive around with unsecured loads.

Meredith April 20, 2011 (5:01 pm)

Meredith here. The incident happened at 1:47 pm this afternoon. I didn’t see anyone ahead of me losing stuff, and since this door came flying at me from overhead-northeast, I really think this was from an unsecured load on a vehicle westbound on the bridge that managed to give the door lift-off.

I was in the far right lane, the SUV was in the far left lane, and if anyone else saw the incident from either side of the bridge, I now have an incident number I’ll give to Tracy so she can post as appropriate.

Neighbor April 20, 2011 (5:46 pm)

Hey M-glad your ok! What about the traffic cam videos? It’s a shame the geek was swiped at…

Meredith April 20, 2011 (5:52 pm)

@Diane: Thanks for the WSP link. I’ve now filed an incident report there as well.

charles brezina April 20, 2011 (6:02 pm)

I hope they said a Prayer of Thanks to God.

Having said that it appears to me that if I were In that car I would have been well back of semis, cars with trailers and open trailers. First of all they throw rocks, second you can’t see what is ahead of them cutting your reaction time down. It appears also in the picture that had they been following a few feet closer the driver would have taken a direct hit. All the laws passed are paper and don’t stop anything. It appeared that the trailer wheel picked up the 2×4 from the side of the road and or could have been in the back of the towing pick up, car or ?? unsecured. Who is the law going to go after when you are dead right and no witness?

Magpie April 20, 2011 (6:27 pm)

Wow, how careless of someone! We were going across the Aurora bridge a couple of years ago and there was a large truck in front of us so we couldn’t see ahead. He swerved out of the lane and lo an behold, there was a barcalounger right in the middle of the lane. Thank God we were able to miss it. I immediately called 911 and then at the end of the bridge, there was the pickup stopped that it fell from. Yes, I did call 911 with the license number..I am so glad that no one got hurt today.

Meredith April 20, 2011 (6:38 pm)

@Neighbor: I just called the SDOT number listed on the website. The operator there had no idea if the cameras actually record/store info. She gave me the number for the management office, and I’ve left a message there. Thanks!

Curtis April 20, 2011 (6:40 pm)

Hi Meredith. I don’t think I know you, BUT I recognize that headlight! I sell that brand. I saw this headline earlier but without the pic. Now that I see the pic – yikes! Simply put – On behalf of all of us associated with your car’s brand and local dealerships Glad to know you’re ok.

Curtis

No-Brand Names here – this isn’t about selling the product.

as-if April 20, 2011 (11:37 pm)

I too am glad that everybody is okay. A close friend of mine died on I-5 when a metal cabinet flipped out of a truck he was following. He left behind a wife and and a family of 5 kids.
This gross act of carelessness also changed the life of the driver, who now lives with the guilt.
People who don’t tie their loads down should be thrown in jail until their court date, even if it is just a traffic fine.
Think about it….

Allie April 21, 2011 (7:31 am)

FYI – SDOT traffic cameras do not record video nor does SDOT archive or retain any of the still images from the traffic cameras.

sun*e April 21, 2011 (9:13 am)

HOLY CRAP! This is the very reason I try to NEVER drive behind someone with an unsecured load. However, since you think it came from the westbound lane when you were going eastbound that’s really scary… pretty much out of nowhere! I think any person driving with an unsecured load should get a HUGE fine even if no harm/damage/injury is done or not! I’m so glad you and your little boy weren’t hurt and I hope the person(s) in the SUV are okay too.

Meredith April 21, 2011 (10:15 am)

SDOT was kind enough to call back this morning – as Allie says they do not record info. No one has contacted the police department yet to report in on the lost door.

tracey April 22, 2011 (2:05 pm)

Meredith, I am wondering if whatever hit your car could have come from that construction area that is right next to and pretty much on the same level (height level) as the WS bridge? This was somewhat right around that area where they’ve placed the new 4th Ave S exit.
I was on the bridge probably not long after you, maybe 2 or 2:15-ish heading eastbound too and they were moving construction materials up with a big crane. At some points the materials looked like they were kind of unsteady (or maybe the crane/crane operator was unsteady, not sure). In any event, I remember thinking when I passed that area and saw that, what would happen if something (even just a small piece) got loose or “accidentally” dropped from the crane and flew over on to the bridge into the cars. Anyway, just a thought!

Irukandji April 23, 2011 (11:04 am)

Where is/was the crane? Since it was a household door, I wouldn’t think it would be connected to roadside construction. All the same, it could certainly be a safety issue.

Sorry, comment time is over.