Update: Rollover crash northwest of The Junction, no injuries

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:43 PM: On our way to a “heavy rescue” call north of The Junction, at 46th/Dakota.

1:57 PM UPDATE: It’s a one-vehicle rollover crash. Police are still trying to figure out how it rolled – but nobody is seriously hurt, so no medics were sent, and most of the “heavy rescue” response was canceled fairly quickly when it was determined they didn’t have to cut anyone out of the vehicle.

2:02 PM UPDATE: New information, and photo added. The overturned Jeep SUV collided with another vehicle at the nearby intersection; the other car lost a bumper, while this one flipped.

ADDED 2:39 PM: Two new photos, by WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli – one is atop the story, substituted for the original cameraphone photo; the other, showing the car that didn’t flip, is atop this line.

Dakota May 16, 2011 (1:51 pm)

Car accident. One car flipped over.

WSB May 16, 2011 (1:56 pm)

Thanks, we just arrived on scene. All but one engine was cleared, which indicates no rescue needed/no serious injuries, but we’re checking.

Bonnie May 16, 2011 (2:03 pm)

Glad nobody is seriously hurt but how fast were they going to have their car flip over? I don’t think 46th and Dakota has a very high speed limit.

SomeGuy May 16, 2011 (2:11 pm)

Too many people blow through those unmarked intersections without even slowing down to check cross traffic. Dollars to donuts that’s what happened here.

cjboffoli May 16, 2011 (2:25 pm)

SUVs have a high center of gravity and tip over easily when t-boned, even by a small car like the Honda Civic in this accident. The Civic’s bumper was damaged, but it still started up and appeared driveable. So speed might not even have been a factor.
.
I’m more impressed that both drivers didn’t even seem to have a scratch on them. Seatbelts save lives and prevent injuries!

Tracy D. May 16, 2011 (2:37 pm)

I grew up on that corner in the big blue house…can’t tell you how many accidents we saw at that intersection over the years. Can’t recall ever seeing one flip though. Scary! Glad everyone is okay.

Catherine May 16, 2011 (2:55 pm)

I’m glad everyone’s okay, too! And this accident prompts me to comment that I do not see any stop or yield signs at this 4-way; can someone explain to me why there seem to be *many* road intersections in West Seattle that are not signed? It seems a huge traffic hazard, to say the least…

Dakota May 16, 2011 (2:58 pm)

Similarly to a few other streets in the area, Dakota comes down west from California Ave as a pretty steep hill. And a lot of people don’t even slow down going down it. It is a perfect recipe for an accident like this.

cjboffoli May 16, 2011 (3:03 pm)

WSB covered a couple of serious accidents on Dakota last year that were just two blocks from today’s crash:

https://westseattleblog.com/2010/02/heavy-rescue-call-at-48thdakota

https://westseattleblog.com/2010/02/traffic-alert-crash-closes-fauntleroy-at-dawson

Slowing down and being extra cautious of those uncontrolled four-way intersections is always a good idea.

Genesee Hill May 16, 2011 (3:10 pm)

Amazing how many drivers approach these un-marked intersections under the assumption that nobody will be approaching the intersection on the other street. Guaranteed one of the two drivers will receive a “failure to yield right of way” ticket.

I was guilty of that while driving a Pizza Haven delivery pick up back in 1970. That was also my last day as a Pizza Haven deliveryman. I did learn a valuable lesson, however….

justme May 16, 2011 (3:20 pm)

I noticed this right after it happened today. It’s an uncontrolled intersection too. No stop sign or yield sign for either direction.

I don’t understand why it’s still uncontrolled if there’s been several accidents. I wish the city would get on this.

WSB May 16, 2011 (3:30 pm)

Important to note, sometimes in these cases the city relies on hearing from the neighbors regarding traffic control. SDOT has procedures for requesting traffic-control measures. If anyone who lives there happens to know whether requests have been made, I’d be interested in following up – if you don’t want to post publicly you are also welcome to ping me at editor@westseattleblog.com – TR

brn2bm May 16, 2011 (3:28 pm)

An uncontrolled intersection works great if you know how to drive. You slow down, and when you can see that it’s safe to procede, you can continue your journey. Notice, if you don’t slow down, and if it’s not safe, this technique doesn’t work. It’s not an accident, it’s a collision caused by inattention.

Skeeter May 16, 2011 (3:29 pm)

Uncontrolled intersections are a Washington thing (and perhaps other states, too.) I learned to drive in another state – there was no such thing as an uncontrolled intersection. Every intersection had either a stop light, stop sign, or yield sign.

Skeeter May 16, 2011 (3:31 pm)

I think that’s the newly re-designed 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Glad no one was hurt – but some insurance company is going to be writing a big check.

bebecat May 16, 2011 (3:38 pm)

There was a day that people did not just blow through intersections. One slowed and looked both ways, yielded to the car on the right. That simple. We did not need a sign to tell us what to do. Glad no one was hurt.

foy boy May 16, 2011 (3:58 pm)

If enough people complain the city might put in a traffic round about. At this point you yeild to the right. We do that now. But there is no law that says you can’t cut short these neighbor hood round abouts. We just need to be carefull where ever we drive.

Denise May 16, 2011 (4:32 pm)

I live down 46th close to Genesee St. The problem is idiots who fly down Glenn Way, veer right up 46th and then pick up speed! We have many families with small (and big) children on this street. Our block captains have been in communication with the City to try to get folks to slow down at the corner of Glenn Way, Genesee Street and 46th Avenue, where it all begins. Meanwhile, SLOW DOWN!

Glendafrench May 16, 2011 (4:50 pm)

Foy Boy and others, I live on Dakota a few blocks from this accident. From beginning to end, the street has at least 7 or 8 traffic circles, one every other block basically. Meanwhile, just up the hill, on my street (one block up from yet another traffic circle) there is a Yield sign that everyone just ignores. I see a few fender benders a year at that intersection. I really don’t know what else the city could do at this stage, for a residential street it is pretty well covered. There are simply a LOT of bad drivers out there.

justme May 16, 2011 (5:02 pm)

There really are a lot of bad drivers out there. I agree! I wonder if it has something to do with the public schools not offering driver’s education anymore. Maybe it’s just because there are more people in the world, not sure.

Julie May 16, 2011 (5:03 pm)

What doesn’t show up in the photos is a sign across the street from the blue house noting blind children or something along those lines.

lucy May 16, 2011 (5:09 pm)

When arriving at these streets drivers must approach the intersection as a 4-way stop. Whether there is signage or not. Just good common sense and defense.

Been There May 16, 2011 (6:53 pm)

Per the Department of Licensing Washington Driver Guide

–

“At an intersection where there is no stop sign, yield
sign, or traffic signal, drivers must yield to vehicles in
the intersection and to those coming from the right.”

–

Taken from page 41: http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/driverguide.pdf

WestASide45 May 16, 2011 (7:07 pm)

Remember, roughly half of all drivers have below average driving ability.

Digidoll May 16, 2011 (8:19 pm)

Hear hear WestASide45! A fellow statistics nerd :)

nobody May 16, 2011 (10:49 pm)

n/t

sgs May 17, 2011 (10:30 am)

There is a big problem with people driving east-west on Oregon at 46th who think they have the right of way even if someeone has approached the intersection driving north-south on 46th before they have. Just because you are coming down the hill fast doesn’t mean you have the right of way. The trees on that corner also block site lines.

Sorry, comment time is over.