Video: 35th SW memorial walk, report #1

If you drive, ride, walk, or roll past the northeast corner of 35th/Graham in High Point in the hours/days ahead, you will see the tribute created during this afternoon’s memorial walk honoring James St. Clair, hit and killed while crossing there last month, just weeks after moving to this area. The bicyclist who died at that same intersection seven years earlier, Susanne Scaringi, was also a new West Seattleite; between the deaths of those two much-loved people, three others died along 35th SW, and all were mentioned today as reasons to make it a safer street. The event organized by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and peninsula-based groups included members of Mr. St. Clair’s family, High Point residents, and safety advocates from around the city, including former Mayor Mike McGinn:

Mr. St. Clair’s niece Darlene Saxby spoke of how much she would miss him, and how she hoped his death will lead to changes that could save other lives:

Some who were on hand have the power to help make that happen, including Councilmember Tom Rasmussen:

Honoring Mr. St. Clair’s Tlingit roots, a fellow former resident of Hoonah, Alaska, Gene Tagaban, drummed and sang:

And then a sight that many were talking about long afterward – an eagle overhead:

The eagle eventually moved on – as did the participants, some staying behind to reflect, about 20 moving on to convene at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center to spend more than an hour talking about what should and could be done to reduce the chance of more deaths and injuries on 35th SW. That is what we’re writing about for the forthcoming second report – including what could be different this time, since, as some participants observed, past tragedies led to many meetings that to date have not followed by change.

G January 18, 2014 (8:29 pm)

I work down by the Morgan Junction and I see unnecessary speeding on California all day long. I just told an elderly woman who I see crossing a few times a day to be extra careful. What the hell is the rush around here? Are people here that self-absorbed? And people complain about LA?

jc January 18, 2014 (9:10 pm)

Drivers in cars don’t realize that 30 mph is way too fast in a neighborhood- makes these tragedies inevitable (I heard of toddler hit/killed on 16th & Henderson SW back in late 80’s, “driver wasn’t speeding.”) Car culture will need to give way to safety pressures, and we’ll need to get creative to slow people down. 35 mph speed on 35th is too fast – let’s slow it down like they did on Admiral hill! (Can we even go 25 mph?)

To make non-car locomotion stand out, pedestrian flags are at some busy intersections; downtown near Seattle U there are flashing lights on the ground; same on Broadway near Harborview and on Ambaum in WC. These need to be maintained in good working condition.

More demonstrations and people getting together like today are so important! Thanks to all the people who came out in support and to WSB for covering this!

Anne January 18, 2014 (9:21 pm)

This is tragic because it could have been prevented. The drivers who travel 35th have forgotten that Peds have the right of way, possibly because it’s not enforced and we are all in such a rush. I cross at Yancy and Avalon, have almost been hit by the C-Line, and a police car not observing this rule. Every day, I cross this street saying a pray before I do.