Update: Driver to hospital after going sideways at 42nd/Dakota

(Added: WSB photo)
6:14 AM: Emergency responders are arriving in the 4000 block of 42nd SW on a “heavy rescue” call that involves a flipped car, according to someone who called us (thank you).

6:19 AM: Some of the units have been canceled – the person in the vehicle, reported to be on its side, got out without having to be cut out. No word on injuries yet; our crew is en route.

6:34 AM: Just added a photo. The car – reported to be owned by a rental company – is up on the sidewalk, and police are trying to figure out how that happened. Its driver is being taken to the hospital by private ambulance. Police say he told them he was westbound and remembers hitting the traffic island just before the car landed on the sidewalk on the north side of Dakota, a few houses east of California. No traffic effects now but once a tow truck arrives, that will cause some 42nd/Dakota logistics challenges for a bit.

8:42 AM: Car’s gone, scene clear.

Kimberly Yamanaka September 12, 2014 (6:30 am)

Thank you!! Was out for a walk with our dog and wondered what was going wrong- this is on our street. Also, your post was so helpful for leaving for work logistics for my husband …just for a heads up. Praying this person is okay. When he was driving out, husband said the person was out of the car thankfully, and on a stretcher.

Didn’t think to call you but was checking your blog and twitter feed. Thanks to whoever called in. Good to know!

WSB September 12, 2014 (6:41 am)

206-293-6302 any time, text or voice. Whenever they get a tow truck there, it’ll block things for a while, sounds like they are still talking to the owner (rental company) to figure out logistics. – TR

Rick September 12, 2014 (6:48 am)

Looks more like a Monday morning.

33pete September 12, 2014 (7:22 am)

I called in this morning on the accident. When I went by a couple of minutes after 6, it appeared as though the occupants were out of the vehicle and at least appeared to by okay. I hope everyone is all right.

WSB September 12, 2014 (7:30 am)

33pete, so that was you who called us? Thanks for the voicemail, we were a little slow in getting to the phone, but it’s appreciated.

JeffK September 12, 2014 (7:26 am)

It’s amazing how many cars end up on their sides or roof!

WSince86 September 12, 2014 (8:05 am)

Always the first place I look when sirens racing around the ‘hood. Seriously Tracey, do you ever sleep?

Alan September 12, 2014 (9:12 am)

I’m glad nobody was in the crosswalk or on the sidewalk when that happened. I am amazed at how many rollovers we seem to have on residential streets; this one involving an unmarked intersection. People seem to treat traffic islands as a test of their driving skill, rather than as a reason to slow down.

I do hope the people are OK and wonder if the driver might have had a medical emergency that was the root cause.

33Pete September 12, 2014 (9:21 am)

It was me who called. WSB is the best local news source and provides some valuable ground truth for all things WS, and I want to do my part to help contribute.

Josh September 12, 2014 (9:26 am)

Does anyone know how this happens?

SomeGuy September 12, 2014 (9:52 am)

I won’t speculate as to the specifics of this accident but I agree 100% with Alan – I am constantly amazed at the number of drivers who don’t slow down at unmarked intersections. Just this morning, in the course of a roundtrip of less than a mile, I saw probably 5-6 cars zooming through without a care in the world. It’s nuts and makes me even more cautious. Be safe out there!!

P.S. Turn your lights on too, even during the day, for added visibility as the days will start to get shorter and darker into Fall and Winter. Good practice year-round but even moreso this time of year.

I Wonder September 12, 2014 (11:35 am)

Were the teenage drivers who stole the pickup and hit a parked car on 44th a few weeks back ever apprehended? Court dates or charges? Unlike this one with no other cars involved, the other was a hit and run with underaged drinking.

pupsarebest September 12, 2014 (12:26 pm)

I look at least twice, and oftentimes three times before proceeding through unmarked intersections—so should everybody.
Totally agree with previous comments about the clueless, careless driving, which is at epidemic proportions.
Add cell phone blathering/texting to the mix, and it’s a small miracle there aren’t more accidents…still, the number of rollovers is mind-boggling, to say the least.

Jim P September 12, 2014 (4:22 pm)

I *really* hope the driver got the optional insurance. Rental company will likely hit him for a ton of charges like lost rental revenue (at the “rack rate” that no one actually pays, accelerated depreciation (shortened lifespan of rental ability due to damage) and anything else they can tack on including spilled fuel.

Been some nasty horror stories about what rental car companies try to gouge out of an accident victim.

unknown September 12, 2014 (4:45 pm)

I know how this happens, theres a big magnet under the streets in W.S. that randomly pulls cars over!

David von Wolffersdorff September 13, 2014 (7:18 am)

To Jeffk and Josh who wondered why they see so many turned over cars these days, it’s because of the popularity of SUVs and trucks both of which have a higher center of gravity (due to their higher ground clearance) than sedans which makes them more vulnerable to tipping over when the driver makes a too-severe steering input. It’s a basic law of physics. Why do you think Formula 1 race cars are designed and built to ride just one inch off the ground?

Alan September 13, 2014 (11:48 am)

I think that everyone has seen the news stories about SUV’s being more likely to roll, but I had thought that some speed (over 25) would still need to be involved. It turns out that even cars can roll at surprisingly low speed. Google “low speed rollover” for videos of cars bumping something and then rolling.

My guess is that they were travelling North on 42nd, turned a hard (not around the island) left onto Dakota, hitting the traffic island with one or both of their passenger side wheels. A combination of the hard turn and the strike put them up on two wheels, finally landing on their side. I don’t see indication of damage to the side or top of the car, so I’m assuming it wasn’t a full roll.

Sorry, comment time is over.