Update: Olson Place reopened after crash that sent 2 to hospital

(Photo added 11:33 am; license plate blurred)
11:11 AM: A crash on Olson Place heading downhill to Highway 509 from the east end of Roxbury has traffic being diverted at Olson/4th (map) – you’ll have to go southbound on 4th, and we can tell you that’s fairly slow going at the moment (we’re behind a bus). One report says a car hit a pole.

11:20 AM UPDATE: We’re at the crash scene, which is close to the top of the hill. The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad’s vehicle just pulled up, which suggests that downhill (eastbound to 509) Olson will be closed for a while, usually a few hours. Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen tells us two people were taken to the hospital.

1:37 PM UPDATE: We won’t be able to check this out firsthand for a while but the scanner indicates police are “clearing the scene,” so if it’s not open yet, it should be shortly. City crews have been summoned to take care of the utility pole that was hit.

1:47 PM UPDATE: Just announced over the scanner – Olson Place now fully open again.

7:27 PM: In the summary on SPD Blotter, police say they still don’t know why the vehicle lost control and hit the pole.

rob July 16, 2011 (11:17 am)

just came up the hill past this. bunch of fire dept vehicles there. only got a quick glimpse as i went by, but the car looked like a SUV and they had cut the roof off of it.

Sue July 16, 2011 (11:21 am)

Just came up the hill from Seattle. Going west is fine and not blocked. Looks like they had to cut the top off the car that hit the pole

Bunnyfer July 16, 2011 (11:42 am)

We drove past (WB on Olsen) about 11:10; the car was almost bisected by the lightpole; would be amazed if people weren’t injured after seeing the aftermath. Avoid the area; use W Seattle Bridge to get on 99 – they are re-routing everyone, and it’s getting backed up.

Bunnyfer July 16, 2011 (11:42 am)

csw July 16, 2011 (11:46 am)

What in the world happened?

mookie July 16, 2011 (12:12 pm)

The impact probably bent the vehicle frame just enough that they couldn’t open the doors to get the occupants out?
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(Maybe the car was designed so the roof pops off when it slams into something – arguably not a good safety design!)

@nastrus July 16, 2011 (12:14 pm)

I also saw the accident just after 11am before the fire department had arrived and cut the car up (there were people already assisting and calling for help on the phone). It look like the driver had somehow gotten themselves sideways on the hill and had collided with the light pole, which pressed in to the passenger compartment on the driver’s side in a pretty major way.

smokeycretin9 July 16, 2011 (12:27 pm)

Oil from trucks, buses and unkept cars makes that stretch of road INCREDIBLY slick when it rains.

I avoid it at all costs when I am on a motorcycle and its raining.

You will see the black stripe and sometimes just flat out oil that looks like it was poured up and down the hill.

Also sad that it goes straight to the Sound in the runoff.

bridge to somewhere July 16, 2011 (12:43 pm)

Smokey is totally right. I have seen several pickups and SUVs spin out at the top of the hill as it curves. My Miata loses grip on that hill too. Go slow on rainy days. Especially on that hill.

Mike July 16, 2011 (1:22 pm)

Cutting off the roof is not a good sign for injuries. My guess is they are neck/spine injuries.
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Those oversized wheels with the tiny brakes that Mitsubishi comes with is a hazard waiting to happen. Extra unsprung weight and small brakes = horrible braking/handling, especially in slippery conditions.