Update: 1 to hospital, 6 cars damaged in North Delridge crash

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(WSB photo added 3:25 pm)
3:14 PM: Thanks to Rose for letting us know about a crash at 26th/Nevada (map) in North Delridge. She says six cars are involved. Our crew is still on the way to check it out, but we’ve already heard radio communications about the need for four tow trucks at the scene, so it sounds like this will take a while to clear. No other details yet, but it does not appear anyone suffered major injuries.

3:20 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene confirms six damaged vehicles and two private ambulances. Prior radio communications suggest some of the vehicles might have been struck while parked, as police said they hadn’t reached all the owners yet. The crash has blocked 26th north of Genesee – which is part of the Delridge Neighborhood Greenway.

3:27 PM UPDATE: One person has been taken to the hospital, we’re told. Added a photo atop this story; still working on getting a count of how many of the vehicles were moving at the time of the collision and how many were parked.

(WSB photo, looking north on 26th)
3:36 PM UPDATE: At least three were parked (on the west side of Nevada), we’ve learned while talking to people at the scene. The tow trucks have arrived, and the ambulances have departed, so this is getting closer to cleanup.

5:31 PM UPDATE: The street has since reopened (just went over to check for sure).

MetPatrick December 22, 2013 (3:32 pm)

Is this by the new Apt complex just south of Nucor? If so I KNEW I just KNEW it was a matter of time before an accident was going to occur there. Hope everyone is ok.

ZS December 22, 2013 (4:04 pm)

Ironically it is right by the new speed bump. Clearly there was a high rate of speed in this accident.

DRW December 22, 2013 (5:10 pm)

Drove by this. And I don’t how a car got going so fast there. A lot of damage on three of the vehicles. Must have made quite a sound when it happened.

Genesee Hill December 22, 2013 (5:26 pm)

TR refuses to call these accidents. And I agree.

Heckuva wreck. Congratulations…

WSB December 22, 2013 (5:36 pm)

I don’t know that there is anything to congratulate. Police were investigating the possibility of a driver suffering a medical problem. We just don’t use “accidents” because that’s a subjective word and crash/collision is the only objective way to describe it, regardless of what the cause turns out to be. We won’t be able to reach anyone to check a written report before tomorrow; Tweets by Beat is not currently showing a citation but it’s only been a few hours. Meantime, MetP, no, it was not in front of Youngstown Flats (WSB sponsor), if that’s what you mean; that’s a block, block and a half to the north of where this happened. Adding another photo. – Tracy

Mel December 22, 2013 (5:52 pm)

It’s interesting that perhaps the biggest crash on 26th happened after millions were spent on the “greenway” specifically to “calm” cars.

melinda December 22, 2013 (5:56 pm)

I watched this happen from my rear view mirror. It was awful. One car was going way too fast as it passed me on 26th, never stopped at the stop sign at genesee, and the next thing I saw were car parts flying all over. Turned around, called in the accident, and checked to make sure no one needed immediate medical assistance.

kayo December 22, 2013 (5:57 pm)

Wow. Hope everyone is ok. You really can’t speed easily in this section of 26th anymore between the speed bumps and all the parked cars so a medical issue as causative factor makes sense.

Genesee Hill December 22, 2013 (6:09 pm)

Like all the wrecks in supposedly “low speed areas”, side streets, and the like…cars ending up on their roofs in pure residential areas.

Crosswalk incidents…

“Congratulations” was pure ***sarcasm***

drahcir61 December 22, 2013 (6:34 pm)

I dunno, doesn’t look too bad … maybe hammer out a few dents, super glue that fender, top off the fluids, should be good to go in the morning (relax ppl that was a joke!).

WSB December 22, 2013 (6:42 pm)

Mel – the project cost is $430,000, listed toward the bottom of the greenway project page linked above (which also details the changes that were and are to be made, stop signs, speed bumps, etc.):
.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/delridgegreenway.htm
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Rhino December 22, 2013 (7:28 pm)

As someone who was directly impacted by both today’s “incident” and the recent traffic improvement project i would just like to chime in here with a few notes:
1) Thank god no one was seriously injured here! As one onlooker remarked ” This looked like a scene out of grand theft auto!”
2) The recent improvements along 26th have been a blessing for those how live and play in the area. 26th is heavily used by both bikes and kids headed to the nearby play field and beyond. and since the improvements the auto traffic has significantly slowed in the area. No longer do we get the speeders cruising down 26th trying to avoid back ups along Delridge. This area is MUCH safer now.
3)Just a quick shout out to the WSB. Once again they are on the ball. And though i did not personally speak to their rep. I was so glad to see that they reported on this. Kiro news was out and shot a litle video, but i am skeptical that anything will make the newscast. You guys ROCK!

WSB December 22, 2013 (7:33 pm)

Thanks, Rhino, I am glad you are OK. As noted in our story, a reader named Rose is the only reason we found out about its magnitude – on the 911 log, it was rather understated, “motor vehicle accident,” which is a classification that means no serious injuries and something that could be as simple as a fender bender, so we don’t usually roll on MVA’s unless – as was the case here – we get a tip. Rose e-mailed; we also welcome texts/voice calls about incidents/sightings of note, from crashes to orcas, 206-293-6302. – TR

lk December 23, 2013 (9:51 pm)

Seconding Rhino’s comments. We’ve lived on 26th for ten yrs, and the speeders avoiding lights along Delridge, even with the regular traffic circles, had been a source of annoyance to downright danger on a daily basis. Neighbors had even borrowed an SPD radar gun to collect data to try and get something done about all the speeders. Traffic is much calmer now, and much safer for cyclists and walkers, epecially in our area, which has no sidewalks. Grateful for the saner street.

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