Update: One killed, one hurt in West Marginal Way crash

(UPDATED late Sunday morning with new information from police)

12:45 AM: Police and fire are on the scene of a crash in the 4800 block of West Marginal Way SW and sounds from the scanner as if one person is dead at the scene. More to come.

12:54 AM UPDATE: Seattle Fire verifies via Twitter that one person is dead and another seriously hurt. This is reported to involve a vehicle hitting a tree at high speed.

1:45 AM UPDATE: Just back from checking the scene. West Marginal Way SW is closed in that area, as you’d expect, in the heart of the industrial zone on one side, greenbelt on the other. The car is small and reddish, and officers at the scene were referring to it as a Ford Focus.

3:30 AM UPDATE: Road’s still closed. We’re hoping for more information on the crash later this morning. Meantime, while the 911 log put the location as the 4800 block, comparing maps to the location we saw while out there, we would say it’s more in the early 5000s.

10:41 AM UPDATE: Just in from SPD Blotter:

On 10/13/13, just shortly after midnight, a vehicle was S/B on W. Marginal Wy in the 4800 block, at (according to a witness) a very high rate of speed.

The driver lost control and struck a tree, causing the vehicle to roll over several times. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to Harborview Medical Center by Seattle Fire Dept in critical condition. The collision was witnessed by a tow truck driver, who stated the vehicle was going over 100 MPH.

alki Resident October 13, 2013 (12:57 am)

Its probably the people/ groups of cars and or bikes that race every single night down there. My son always wants to watch because it’s so cool to him .Maybe it would’ve been a great reality check for him to see this tonite. Not sure why nothing is eve done about the constant racing every night.

WSB October 13, 2013 (1:45 am)

Small reddish car, officers were yelling that it was a Ford Focus. Scanner talk indicated a tree was involved but it appeared – very dark down there and we had to hike in along the train tracks – its rear end was damaged, not front, so will be interested to hear what investigators deduce – TR

Rick October 13, 2013 (6:14 am)

We raced down there in the 60’s and 70’s so not really new but the loss of a life is still tragic.

mb73 October 13, 2013 (6:43 am)

I was coming to work northbound on West Marginal at about 5:20 this morning and SPD still had it closed.

WSB October 13, 2013 (10:12 am)

We just drove through and it is open. Wouldn’t even know where this happened if we hadn’t walked in while they were investigating.

Csea October 13, 2013 (7:58 am)

Tragic. Just yesterday I was driving down West Marginal with my kids, when two or three cars went racing by, at what had to be close to 100 mph. Ironically, after that, I saw one of the cars (a small black CRV) was broken down in the middle of the intersection down by Chelen Cafe. There were several teenish age kids standing around. There was also a turquoise Honda civic involved.
Not sure if this is related, but it’s too bad the police don’t patrol this area more at night for the racing issues.

metrognome October 13, 2013 (9:11 am)

condolences to the family and friends of the victim. Kudos to the first responders who do their best and who must be affected by seeing this kind of trauma so often.

Genessee neighbor October 13, 2013 (11:47 am)

Sad and stupid. The poor families.

DRW October 13, 2013 (11:56 am)

My husband and I were driving south on W. Marginal on 10/4 at about 5:00 p.m. and saw an old model light green Mercedes and another car (Honda? missing emblems on back of car) racing and weaving in and out of traffic. At certain spots they slowed down and then sped up again. Very erratic.

We drove home via W. Marginal last night at 10:00 p.m. and drivers seemed very normal.

This is sad. I’m guessing the police know about the racing commented on by alki resident.

WSB October 13, 2013 (12:00 pm)

Every so often people have e-mailed us about suspected racing on that stretch of road – flat and relatively deserted at that time of night – and we have suggested not only calling 911 but also contacting the Community Police Team, as that would come under the category of “chronic problem.” On a side note, the police update explains why we saw a tow truck at the scene last night (you can see a corner of it in our second photo) when it was clearly too soon for the wreckage to be towed – when TCIS investigates deadly or life-threatening-injury collisions, the wreckage generally isn’t taken away until they are done …

wetone October 13, 2013 (11:59 am)

Every couple years there is a deadly car crash on West Marginal way, always north side of Lafarge cement plant. Very tricky corner at high speed and comes up very quickly from either direction. Cars and motorcycles end up washing out into curb going airborne and rolling. As said above drag racing has been going on there and South Park Fwy. since they were built. Police will never be able to stop it, as it comes to drivers responsibility in the end. Sad deal for everyone.

JanS October 13, 2013 (12:05 pm)

the 5:20am or so closure was probably to clean up fuel spill from moving the wreckage….it was noted on realtime 911 log…

Jim P. October 13, 2013 (12:14 pm)

There seems to be a great deal of “racing” in West Seattle these days, at least the part I live in.

Not uncommon to hear a motorcycle run by, engine and obviously modified exhaust screaming at incredible volume headed up the hill to Delridge or other vehicles just roaring along late at night.

Would like to see more anti-speeding patrols.

Citizen Sane October 13, 2013 (1:31 pm)

Hello! How about speed radar cameras? Oh wait, that would be an ‘infringement’ on our oh-so-sacrosanct ‘rights’.

Bonita McGee October 13, 2013 (1:57 pm)

I’m sure speed radar cameras would be a real deterrent to those who meet every weekend in the middle of the night to race cars at speeds upwards of 100mph. That’ll show ’em!

Anna October 13, 2013 (2:23 pm)

I’m interested if they’ve released names of either person involved or at least ages. I’m a teacher in the area and this sounds like teenaged poor choices to me, just curious if there is any info any schools might want to be prepared for on Monday.

WSB October 13, 2013 (2:58 pm)

Anna, good question. No names – the medical examiner will likely release the driver’s name tomorrow afternoon, but the passenger’s name wouldn’t be made public … no real way to even know if s/he (I heard 21 year old and male on the scanner, but that is always very preliminary information, will have to check with Seattle Fire in the morning) survived. We have not received any off-the-record messages or comments regarding IDs, either.

wetone October 13, 2013 (2:32 pm)

You may say this is far fetched but what I see today is kids and adults driving like they do playing video games. They think they can drive their real cars the same way but the results are most times very different if not always, there is no reset button in real life. No reason for cameras that watch and ticket everyone and you would have to put a camera on every corner. Drivers need to be responsible for their own actions not the cops job. Drivers need to know when to shut down instead of thinking it’s a game. Taking a car to its limits along with street racing has been going on since cars and motorcycles were invented and most likely will never stop. What ever happened here ended with a lost life not good :(

Citizen Sane October 13, 2013 (2:55 pm)

Bonita McGee, you don’t get it, do you? Would you speed or ‘street race’ on a stretch of road where you know there is a 100% certainty that your car will be photographed, it’s speed measured, and you (or your parents, depending on if it was yours or your daddy’s car) would receive a hefty ticket? If your answer to that question is yes, you’re be an even bigger jobbernowl than the amentia of your post suggests.
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When you strip away the specious arguments of ‘civil liberties’ you find that most opponents of speed radar and red light cameras are secretly serial scofflaws themselves, who don’t want to be held accountable for their own selfish behavior (and yes, speeding, running red lights, and yakking on cel phones while at the wheel are all manifestations of selfish ‘my-convenience-trumps-your-safety-so-bite-me’ attitudes).

lala2mom October 13, 2013 (3:30 pm)

@Citizen Sane–it’s possible to make your point without calling others names. In fact, it tends to be more effective.

Citizen Sane October 13, 2013 (4:19 pm)

@lala2mom – You’re absolutely right; it’s not only possible, it’s preferable – when one is offered a cogent and thoughtful counterargument to one’s proposal.
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But unfortunately, sometimes you just have to call out nincompoopery for what it is. Not all posts are created equal, and Bonita McGee’s was simply a waste of bandwith. From her tone, it was clear that any attempt at a rational discussion would’ve been pointless. It brings to mind the advice: “Never argue with an idiot; they’ll drag you down to their level, and beat you on experience.” Even offering it the pretense of respect is analogous to putting lipstick on a pig; you can dress it up all you want, but it’s still a pig.
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The simple reality is this: people are dying and being maimed in street-racing accidents, and a lot of it is avoidable. The vast majority of street racers would no sooner speed where they knew speed cameras were deployed than they would if they saw a cop waiting at the corner. We have the surveillance technology to detect and cite street racers, speeders, and red-light runners, but we lack the maturity, responsibility, and community will to make it so, because just as the paranoid gun nuts see mass confiscation behind every reasonable effort at regulation, we have ‘civil liberty’ fetishists seeing ‘1984’ behind every effort to use surveillance to more efficiently enforce traffic laws. This form of selfishness has deadly consequences, and needs to be called out as such.

howdy October 13, 2013 (6:42 pm)

Citizen Sane has spoken. The rest of us must now remain silent and keep our thoughts to ourselves.

justin adams October 13, 2013 (6:45 pm)

The driver was indeed 21 the passenger is 22 the driver who had passed is one of my best friends known him since we were like 10 hes a great kid very smart and very anal about doing things the right way. Still hasnt set in yet that someone i grew up with has passed let alnoe the fact i too could have been in the car. He was not racing isnt much of a racer drove fast at times yes, if he was here to ask what happend we would all know the real reason for last nights fatal actions but thats not the case. We all love you man justin walker justin adams joel daniels joshua carroll your mom sister sophia your beautiful daughter, and your father he is really hurting bud, and many more people as well. Look down on us and keep us safe!

Hey lady October 13, 2013 (7:46 pm)

Negative commentary is also selfish and needs to be called out as such. Sending love and strength to the family and friends.

Mike October 13, 2013 (8:12 pm)

Justin Adams, sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. No matter what the cause, you lost a friend and a family lost their son, brother, father.
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Citizen Sane, you’re off in lala land. You judge before the investigation is even done much less released to public. You’re also clueless as to who would street race. Ever wonder who drives the cars with stolen parts from cars that get stripped? Yes, those cars typically are not easy to track to the driver racing. Pictures are only good if the car is driven by the legal owner when the actual license plate is on it. But, good attempt at rationalizing things that don’t work.

Danni O'Conner October 13, 2013 (8:38 pm)

I knew the driver. He was an amazing guy. He was nice to people even when they didn’t deserve it. My thoughts go out to his family. Justin Adams, I know how close you two were.. I am so sorry for your loss.

sarah clark October 13, 2013 (8:53 pm)

Hang in there Justin. The driver was an amazing, smart, kind young man and father. I will miss seeing him randomly every few days…RIP. thoughts and prayers are with the family.

datamuse October 13, 2013 (11:06 pm)

You may say this is far fetched but what I see today is kids and adults driving like they do playing video games.
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Really? Most of the time what I see is people driving while talking on their phones and paying very little attention to the road. Is there a video game where you do that?

me October 13, 2013 (11:31 pm)

Can someone please help me connect these two quotes:
“The collision was witnessed by a tow truck driver, who stated the vehicle was going over 100 MPH.”
“The driver was an amazing, smart, kind young man and father.”
I do not really see a smart guy/father driving driving 100mph on west marginal way, sorry.

Sandal40 October 14, 2013 (7:43 am)

So sorry to hear about the loss of life. Hope the other young man is OK. I am also very sorry to the family and friends or whoever has their stomach turned by thoughtless comments. ………….. Mistakes are made daily by smart people

m October 14, 2013 (8:03 am)

@ me – I think we’re all full of contradictions. Myself included.

@ Citizen Sane…

Anonymous October 14, 2013 (8:50 am)

@me, there is a grieving family right now, your comment probably isn’t appreciated right now.

Any updates on the passenger?

unknow October 14, 2013 (11:42 am)

It’s really sad to see that people have negative things to say or feel they have the right to say anything at all regardless of what the situation may be you dont know him or anything about the situation. Everyone needs to worry about their selves and what you have going on in your own life. He was a very good person who made a bad decision, people make mistakes. Rest in peace

mamacita4life October 14, 2013 (11:59 am)

To the people who are making negative comments, is that really necessary? I knew the kid and know his family very well and don’t need to hear that garbage. Everyone imagine if it was your loved one or your child that was in that car. You only know them as the beautiful person they are. Please try to refrain from insulting anyone. Please remember family and friends are grieving for his loss. Also please remember another person is fighting for their life. What happened was a tragedy, nothing more. Please pray for the family. They need that more than anything. A loss of a child is a parents worst nightmare. I can’t imagine. My prayers, my heart, and my love go out to his family.

Daniel Cormier October 14, 2013 (5:33 pm)

I love you man rest in peace

Kimberly Marie October 15, 2013 (1:02 am)

The driver… He was a great guy, he was the father to my bestfriends babygirl.. It may have been wreckless or whatever but when you sit back nobody knows what really happened that night in the car. All we know is we loved him, and he will never be forgotten. Please joejo look down on us and keep us save. Nothing but love goes out to his family and everyone affected by this.

Cathy October 15, 2013 (7:43 am)

First, can I say to the family and friends how sorry I am for their tragic loss?

Interesting comments, but I feel I need to jump in and say that speeding on West Marginal Way is not only a nighttime, young male drivers kind of problem – speeding is a constant problem, and accidents are very common. I may not live on this street but I work here (in the 4800 block where most of the accidents seem to happen), and I and my coworkers have seen quite a few over the years. We’ve also come in on a Monday morning to find the fence with a big bend in it, a tree scraped of bark and bits of auto and glass covering the yard all the way to the doorway.

Talk to the AML/Lynden drivers who have to make left turns out of that yard at the north end of the “S” curves. Talk to the two drivers who had cars going too fast through those curves and hit the semis side on. IIRC, the ambulance called for the last driver who hit one of those semis didn’t leave the scene with its lights on.

Then there are the icy mornings when that section of roadway frequently turns into a skating rink, yet the drivers don’t slow down and many find themselves flying out of those curves (sometimes sideways).

On nights and weekends, residents of West Seattle use this road like a freeway to avoid the slower moving streets on the hill. On weekdays, this is an industrial area with large trucks entering and leaving businesses. 40 MPH is fast enough. Speeding is a problem on this street, and the only way to try to stop it is by education and perhaps some community involvement. If the police don’t have the resources to patrol this street as they should, perhaps some other deterrents can be found? Better signage on the road?

I don’t know, but if the entire community could put their efforts together and we might find a way to stop this and perhaps save another life? Because if we don’t, this will happen again on this road.

Ruth October 15, 2013 (9:20 am)

I have never met the driver but I would like to say to the family and friends that I am very sorry to hear of the tragedy you all are going through. My heart hurts for all of you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all and know through the Almighty Lord you will find peace and comfort as time goes on. Hang on to the Lord and he will show you the way.

joshua carroll October 15, 2013 (12:06 pm)

joejo. bro im crying right now, i cant even explain the pain that im in right now. i wish there could have been something i can do to prevent this from happening. we all miss you bro. you were my best friend/brother, we practicly did everything together through the bad times and the good times. we had fun, we faught at times but we always went back to kicking it and having good times with all of our friends. it seems like just yesterday you and dean were out here visiting me, and im thinkging about maby if i wasnt on house arrest this would have never happend. im hurting so much right now and i know all of your family and friends are to man, we all love you. and like justin said bro look down on us from time to time and make sure were doing alright. i know your in a better place love you man. i will see you again someday.

Melissa Dalby October 16, 2013 (12:38 am)

To all of my friends if anyone needs someone to talk to I am here. It breaks my heart to see you mourn. Joejo you are irreplacable in so many lives. I will never stop wondering why the brightest people in our lives go the soonest. I cry for your daughter and her mother. Give us love from above.