60 Replies to "Update: 'High-speed' rollover crash sends 4 to hospital; driver under investigation for DUI"

• K May 12, 2013 (4:04 am)

  I hope all involved are okay, it’s quite the scene down here.

  • WSB May 12, 2013 (4:09 am)

    Listening to the medical conversation between hospital and SFD medic crews, all four were conscious …

• F May 12, 2013 (4:22 am)

  Really scary sight down here. I live across the street. All four were ejected from convertible. I don’t think they all made it. A very disturbing thing to wake up too. Peace for all the families this hurt.

  • WSB May 12, 2013 (4:25 am)

    F, they were all described as conscious when loaded into medic vans, per communication between SFD and hospital, monitored by scanner. SFD says all were in their 20s. None wearing seat belts, per SFD. My co-publisher is on his way back from the scene.

• F May 12, 2013 (4:38 am)

  Gosh, I really hope that’s true. They walked one stretcher all the way down Harbor and that body looked totally covered. Fingers crossed. A really scary night for everyone around here. And it just started pouring rain.

• F May 12, 2013 (4:58 am)

  Any updated info on their status? My neighbor is pretty shook up…..he was first on scene and helped the driver out of the bushes.

  • WSB May 12, 2013 (5:04 am)

    There won’t be any reports from the hospital unless somebody has a name to ask about (and even then, families can invoke privacy rules and make that information unavailable). But *none* were described as being in really bad shape, no CPR, anything like that. The most recent radio exchange between the special collision investigator(s) who are coming out and police who had investigated just described them as “hurt.” If police decide to write this up on SPD Blotter, we may get a little information later.

• F May 12, 2013 (5:07 am)

  That is great news. Thank you for the update. And thank you for keeping the neighborhood informed.

• Gina May 12, 2013 (5:18 am)

  We also live across the street and watched this all unfold from our porch. WSB had an update before I could get on my shoes to see what was happening! Great job!

• J May 12, 2013 (6:39 am)

  I just want to know if the driver was drunk and how fast they were going to mangle the cat and three trees like that.

• J May 12, 2013 (6:40 am)

  Car, not cat.

  • WSB May 12, 2013 (7:23 am)

    “High speed” is all the suspicion that was voiced – that would be up to the investigators to determine what they think was the number. And yes, they were reported to be investigating this as a case of suspected drunk driving.

• J May 12, 2013 (7:32 am)

  Just came back from where they’re towing it. “Oh look, beer!” said the tow truck driver when they flipped it over.
  https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/993046/2013-05-12%2006.31.42.jpg

• nemobeansmom May 12, 2013 (8:00 am)

  I’m glad to hear that all the young people in the car are somewhat OK and make it home quickly and hopefully they learned from this.

  We all have to remember we were once young and didn’t always make the right choices but hopefully learn from our wrong to make the right ones…

• F May 12, 2013 (8:15 am)

  I overheard the investigators say alcohol was a contributing factor.

• kumalavula May 12, 2013 (8:15 am)

  I just walked the dog along harbor ave, starting near Sally’s and heading south. the car was flipped upright and attached to the towtruck and it looked like they were wrapping up the investigation. it looked pretty bad, tree, car online comments here and all ;(

• Display May 12, 2013 (9:18 am)

  I think they should move that car in a spot for everyone to see an example of what a car crash looks like. It is prom & graduation season it is a good visual reminder for our young adults to drive slowly.

• Faith4 May 12, 2013 (9:42 am)

  I just came from over near Kenny Home – just past it & a crunched car was being put on a tow truck….front in crunched and police cars and another truck (could not see the name on it) was there. Looked like they were in process of cleanup so probably all gone by time this is posted.

• jiggers May 12, 2013 (9:46 am)

  J…media won’t tell you that Its non important. They are young outstanding citizens though..

• Australopithecus Gigantus May 12, 2013 (10:04 am)

  I haven’t seen 1 police officer on Alki, during the warm weather. I’ve seen motorcycles speeding, cars speeding, cars hopping all over the road, cars/motorcycles doing burnouts, and stereos shaking my windows. All this, and not 1 police officer. These miscreants have had immunity to run wild down here. Maybe if the laws on were enforced on Alki – accidents like this wouldn’t happen. Sadly, it will take a fatality, or a shooting for law enforcement to pay due attention.

• lux May 12, 2013 (10:06 am)

  I was at the scene also, and what the tow truck driver said was, “Oh, dear!” as they flipped the car. Nothing about beer.

  Glad everyone made it.

• seatown May 12, 2013 (10:18 am)

  I know one of them they’re all recovering well last I heard.

• Observer May 12, 2013 (10:32 am)

  I hope they have to reimburse the city for the tree. It would be even better if they had to pay for the tree and the emergency response.

• smokeycretin9 May 12, 2013 (10:33 am)

  om man, they must have been hauling a$$ to mangle that car so badly. It’s a miracle they are alive.

• CandrewB May 12, 2013 (11:10 am)

  Australopithecus Gigantus, this is a yearly happening. There will not be a command presence until someone gets shot. Then, the city will act all surprised and after some hand-wringing, the emphasis patrols begin. Not blaming anyone, it’s just what happens.

• Jim P. May 12, 2013 (12:01 pm)

  “We all have to remember we were once young and didn’t always make the right choices ”

  Sorry but many if not most of us did not make decisions that land our car upside down wrapped around a tree while not wearing seat belts and possibly after a night of drinking.

  I have no sympathy whatsoever for anyone who drives while impaired. It is the same as wandering around firing a gun wildly into the air: it is not a “bad choice” it is criminal.

• Gina May 12, 2013 (12:04 pm)

  It is truly a miracle. The squealing tires woke us, and that seemed to last a long time before we heard the crash. Major kudos to the young people who live in the house behind us – they were running to the crash and on the scene before we even got to the window.

• Laura Williamson May 12, 2013 (12:52 pm)

  I am the mother of the driver in this terrible wreck, I would like for all of you to know that the kids are doing fine, Four families are very lucky on this day that I (we) will never forget. My son will learn from this terrible nightmare, As for the tow truck driver, you are wrong on your comment of the beer being in the vehicle, As there was none, We will be donating this vehicle to the police/state patrol for kids to learn about drinking and driving,I would like to thank everybody for your kinds thoughts and prayers

• Australopithecus Gigantus May 12, 2013 (1:13 pm)

  CandrewB,

  You’re absolutely right. It’s a shame, in my modest opinion. It literally takes a death each year for the police to take notice down here (on Alki). I’ve noticed this cycle, for the 6 years I’ve lived on Alki – after the first shootings/fatality, then the police ‘take notice’ on the strip. Seattle may have one of the worst police agencies in the US, in many regards – this is merely a microcosmic example as to why. Meanwhile, miscreants have carte blanche legal immunity to do whatever they want on Alki.

• Laura Williamson May 12, 2013 (1:18 pm)

  It’s not about the police or Alki, It could have happened anywhere!!

• McGruff May 12, 2013 (2:32 pm)

  Laura, I don’t entirely agree. It could happen anywhere, but it is MORE likely to happen here. A combination of factors are at work: (1) we have Alki Beach, one of only 2 significant beach parks in the City, and it becomes on nice weekends an ‘attractive nuisance’ to louts and yahoos from Auburn to Lynwood. (2) As others have pointed out, SPD presence is pretty meager (SPD’s spirit is willing, but it’s funding is weak). Therefore, when the cat’s away, the mice play.
  .
  It has become so bad that I don’t venture north of Admiral Way on the weekends, and look forward to Mondays and rainy days when the ‘occupation forces’ cede the beach back to us locals.
  .
  I love my community, and as much as I fantasize about putting up checkpoints from the west end of the WS bridge, down 35th to Roxbury, then west to the Sound, that approach is neither legal nor practical. Similarly, we simply can’t afford to put a cop on every corner; SPD is doing as much as they can with what they have. The logical answer is more aggressive use of speed radar and surveillance cameras, as the odds of someone misbehaving are inversely proportional to the odds that they will be identified and held accountable for their misbehavior. Unfortunately, we then risk the ire of the panicmongers among the so-called ‘civil liberty’ crowd, who are more concerned about guarding against their paranoid fantasies of a Police State, while having no concern about the reality of weekend anarchy we experience now (until THEIR property gets messed with, then they whine ‘where were the cops?’)
  .
  A community is about a BALANCE of freedom and responsibility. Until we get serious about doing what it takes to restore this balance, this sort of dangerous hooliganism will continue each and every weekend until November.

• J May 12, 2013 (2:43 pm)

  Wait…there was no beer in the car so you’re donating it to the police to teach kids about drinking and driving? Makes sense. Whatever does it for you. Glad the kids are ok and hopefully wiser for the experience.

• Betsy May 12, 2013 (2:45 pm)

  Laura,

  I’m so glad your son and the others are OK. We all make mistakes.

  Thanks for posting

• kjb May 12, 2013 (4:08 pm)

  Laura, I am glad that the kids are ok and thank you for letting us know.

• F May 12, 2013 (4:46 pm)

  Laura, It’s every mothers nightmare. I am so relieved to know that they are ok. I live across the street and will share this info with my neighbors who helped your son. These four are unspeakably lucky. I hope they heal well, learn a lesson and you have many Happy Mother’s Days in the future.
  Best wishes.

• West Seattle Hipster May 12, 2013 (5:43 pm)

  Spot on CandrewB. We have a police force and city leadership that is reactive rather than proactive.

  Predictive policing?

  Glad everyone is safe, hopefully will be a wake up call.

• Bummer May 12, 2013 (5:48 pm)

  Yes. I have done many idiotic things in my life. One must learn from their mistakes. I hope I have. And hope your children do, as well.

• Mike May 12, 2013 (6:38 pm)

  @ Mcgruff – You wrote what I was thinking. One addition however, the nonsense is not just on Alki, there are plenty of other parts of the city that have ongoing crappola occurring.

• Noxious Weeds May 12, 2013 (6:56 pm)

  Yes, McGruff.

  My thoughts, as well. I like the nice weather for my garden, but hate the noxious weeds it attracts down on Alki.

• haha May 12, 2013 (7:09 pm)

  Laura

  On Mothers Day I’m so glad to hear that your child is OK and that the three others in the car are OK.

  I can only imagine that this is a learning experience for everyone involved and touched.

  Please smile and disregard the other posters for their crass and insensitivity(typical seattle) comments to the situation. It took guts to post here at this time and tell everyone the latest news.

• Ken May 12, 2013 (7:11 pm)

  @ CandrewB, Australopithecus Gigantus & McGruff –
  .
  All of your comments are spot on. Well stated and unfortunately, so very true.

• Laura Williamson May 12, 2013 (7:11 pm)

  YES My son was drinking, but there was no beer in the car as the tow truck driver said that there was. I always have said I wish we could turn the clock back, But this time I’m so glad we can’t, He will learn from this nightmare, My son is very sorry and we thank you for caring and helping them.

• WSRainy May 12, 2013 (7:12 pm)

  Agreed we need a police presence in WS on the first warm days. On the WS Bridge coming home to West Seattle at about 7:15 there were two cars a black Porsche convertible and a white BWM convertible going so fast and weaving in and out of traffic I’m was sure they were going to cause an accident. It is so confusing to me that we can have SPD pulling people over on the bridge Eastbound during the morning commute (which only adds to the back up) and not a police car in sight on a sunny weekend where the average bridge speed is 60+

  • WSB May 12, 2013 (7:25 pm)

    First: I echo thanks to Ms. Williamson for the updates and for the participation here. As mentioned earlier, because of medical privacy laws, and also because it’s a weekend, that information would not have been available otherwise. (And we hope that everyone involved recovers fully. If there is any more information to be shared, you also are welcome to contact me at editor@westseattleblog.com.)
    .
    Two conversations are going on here – one about this crash, and one about police presence on Alki. This crash did not happen on Alki – it was on Harbor just a few blocks from the bridge, in the direction heading toward the beach but nowhere near it. Also, remember, it was after 3:30 am, and whatever the weather, I don’t know that police would be routinely staked out on that stretch of Harbor at that hour of the morning. They did even have to call police from other sectors to come help block off the road afterward. The force does get stretched pretty thin pretty fast – officers had to go to Harborview with the victims, for example – there were other calls in West Seattle, too, and outside; right around the time the three medic units with the most seriously injured victims were arriving at Harborview, police in the Central District had to respond to a deadly shooting. Anyway, what I did want to say was: PLEASE come to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council’s next meeting if you have a concern with police presence, on Alki or anywhere else. There is always a time at the start of the meeting when precinct leadership updates crime trends and asks for questions/concerns from attendees, and it is seldom fully utilized. The next meeting is one week from Tuesday – May 21st (7 pm). FWIW to the Alki point, we traveled the full stretch of Harbor/Alki Avenues one of the warm nights last weekend right after sunset and -did- see police staked out right in the heart of the beach businesses, just east of the bathhouse. – TR

• Richard May 12, 2013 (7:57 pm)

  Laura, thank God your son and his passengers are alive. Also, thank you for having the courage to come forth as the mother of the driver, and expose yourself to the flack that possibly comes your way. Fortunately, there are those who understand the severity of your concern, fear, and knowledge of the consequences that we all know, especially as parents. Your son, as a young adult, is like many at that age, still caught in between the ages of those who have grown out of being a teenager, and those who are not quite settled down, to the point of fearing the posible ramifications of their actions, and the lasting effects. Time will tell. Regardless of how grounded we hope our kids might be, they still run the risks of potential harm, be it self induced, or from outside influences, yet in either case, both are our fears.

  As for the conditions or locations of such things as this happening, it could indeed happen anywhere, and it has. Hell, I was hit head on on Beach Drive, on an early, drizzly January afternoon, got my Medic One ride to Harborview, and three months out of work. In addidition, I have seen the carnage done in a similar fashion not far from my accident, in front of the Menashe home years ago, that took the lives of an elderly couple.
  Certainly Alki, and Lincoln Park are nice weather attractions, and can be like chumming for sharks, just inviting trouble. For those of us who have grown up down here on Alki, still live here, and have families, things have not changed much since the late 60’s, in terms of its attractiveness to the masses. What has changed, for the most part, is the misguided sense of ” tolerance” which has led to the complacent nature of so called political leaders, which in turn give orders to law enforcement, and sadly leave very little room for actually exercising any meaningful level of enforcement, that would curtail the potential dangers. Being reactive rather proactive is the governmental norm, that is until loss of property or life, and then it becomes a public relations stunt, until the dust settles. The front line members of the SPD, have their hands tied, be it from their own doing, but more over from the public outcry that continues to cover them like a dark cloud, that ultimately, keeps the men and women on patrol, held at bay, because ” Downtown ” does not want to look bad, and operates out of fear. That trickle down effect, collides with the duty of the SPD, and the general public that wants, expects, and needs their mutual support. Cameras and speed monitoring devices are not the answer, and are yet another example of the public’s being complacent thus turning more control over to the very governmental bodies that they already question. People have become to afraid to call out those who directly create problems, as have the politicians who on one hand want their support, yet don’t want to
  ” offend ” the residents or the troublemakers.
  Widespread check points are not needed, but reverting back to practices used during the 80’s, which came on the heels of massive summer cruising, hot rods, burnouts, rock n roll, alcohol, underage consumption, weed smoking, nose candy, motorcycles, parked cars from 63rd Ave. to Duwamish Head, and everything in between, that saw the utilization of the SPD Horse Patrol, undercover, uniformed foot patrol, staggered patrol cars, signs posted,anti cruising patrols/check points, fines, bike patrols and the mobile precinct rig all played an important roll in the brief period of calm that resurfaced for a few years that came about, in a very large part, due to my friend’s grandmother being struck by a car while she was in the crosswalk crossing Alki at 61st. Fire trucks were drastically hampered in getting to her, thus forcing the City’s hands to make changes. It worked for a few years, but as society became more ” tolerant ” of the actions displayed, the complaints of law enforcement being to rough or targeting those who participated in creating problems, and the neighbors becoming to afraid to confront the problems, have all led to the increase in disrespect held by those who have no intent on being mindful to the residents, the laws, and certainly law enforcement. A perfect recipe for the potential dangers. SPD doing patrols on a sunny Tuesday, and not making their presence known early on a sunny weekend or summer day, in addition to the total lack of parking enforcement that should be made not just along Alki, but the many side streets too during the inviting days, is not just a lost ” revenue ” source, but an outright disservice to those of us who do live around here, and to the many who come to just simply visit and enjoy, without causing trouble.
  No, the pretend leaders would much rather paint invitations to Harborview in the forms of bicyclist on already busy and dangerously non repaired streets. Something as simple as a meaningful and well intended presence by those who we rely on, with a sincere, solid, and honest sense of support from the Mayor down, would be a nice start.

• enviromaven May 12, 2013 (8:18 pm)

  Happy Mother’s Day, Laura. I’m glad your son and his friends are OK. Hopefully as you say, this will be a learning experience for all.

• Laura May 13, 2013 (7:56 am)

  Thank you WSB for your statement, I’m so glad that you noticed that there was 2 different stories going on here, It’s people like that you wouldn’t want them on your jury case.

• Cid May 13, 2013 (9:09 am)

  Thank you McGruff and WSB for pointing out the facts of the situation and realities about SPD man power. This accident happened at 3:30 am.and not on Alki. Those who are screaming about police not being everywhere at every minute are the same ones who are paranoid about Seattle being a “Police State”. Good grief!

• S. May 13, 2013 (9:32 am)

  Am I the only one that watches the news?! There have been a few drunk driving incidents recently that killed people and destroyed families!! It is not ok to drive drunk. There is absolutely no excuse – “oh, he’s young, we all made mistakes…” He’s lucky he didn’t kill someone.

• Anne May 13, 2013 (9:50 am)

  One of the passengers is still in the hospital please pray and hope that she will recover fast.

• LAURA May 13, 2013 (10:48 am)

  Anne, there’s two still ih hosp. Two were lucky to go home yesterday! There was 4 gods looking our them.

• Neighbor May 13, 2013 (2:07 pm)

  I find it pretty pathetic the number of comments treating this as if it’s simply a bad judgement call on this kid’s behalf.

  He should be charged with reckless endangerment and attempted murder. There is NO excuse for driving drunk. His mistake could have cost people their lives. He could have destroyed numerous families.

  To treat this as a juvenile mistake is insulting to the kids in the hospital and those of us that want to get home to our families alive. He should serve time.

• Lynn May 13, 2013 (2:25 pm)

  Agree with comments by Neighbor. It does sound like most are viewing this as a “juvenile mistake”. Glad they all survived of course, but he should be charged to the full extent and we should all take this more seriously than the comments indicate.

• S. May 13, 2013 (2:36 pm)

  I couldn’t agree more Neighbor! Drinking and driving is selfish and irresponsible.

• Savvy May 13, 2013 (6:22 pm)

  Dear Laura,

  As a parent that agrees your son is no longer adolescence and will do as justice is served, would kindly like to recommend that you cease making comments about his state of affair.

  Best wishes to all that were involved and their families.

• JM May 13, 2013 (7:32 pm)

  I agree with ‘neigbhor’s comments…stop sweeping what happened under the rug. An innocent person could of been killed.

• F May 13, 2013 (9:05 pm)

  Laura,
  I think it was equal parts brave and ill advised to make public comments identifying yourself and your full name. I think it is safe to assume that there will be court proceedings and I recommend that you disengage from this blog stream. Just my opinion of course but if this was my son I think I would be careful what is made public.
  Best wishes

• t.l.f.p. May 13, 2013 (10:11 pm)

  I am glad that all involved in this accident have survived. I will say, this has brought back some painful memories for me as a very young adult. My best friend in high school died in a roll-over crash because she was not wearing her seat belt and was crushed by the car when she was thrown from it while it was rolling. While there was no alcohol involved, the young people in the car were driving too fast for the road conditions that night. I was not in the car, but I wear a seat belt religiously since this accident happened in the early 80’s (most of us did not wear a seat belt then).
  I urge everyone to wear their seat belt, and please do not ever drink and drive. My heart will forever ache from the tragic loss of a friend many years ago….I do not wish that on anyone.

• veronica May 14, 2013 (10:02 am)

  this is just scary to see how this accident could happen so fast. im glad that i still get to see my cousin for many more days. And im sorry about the others who got hurt i hope to visit and see you guys soon enough. just please get better and my prayers goes out to all you guys. love you guys

• Truth May 15, 2013 (8:50 pm)

  Drunken driving collisions result from carelessness or deliberate dangerous driving (under the influence of alcohol), not from circumstances beyond the control of the at-fault driver. Car crashes that are caused by a drunk driver are entirely avoidable.

Sorry, comment time is over.