(SCROLL DOWN for Monday afternoon update)
(WSB photo by Katie Meyer)
10:17 PM: Big Seattle Fire, police response on the way to the 3900 block of California SW (map), where a multiple-car crash is drawing a “heavy rescue” response because someone might be trapped. More to come.
10:22 PM: Adding a photo from WSB’s Katie Meyer, who is at the scene. It shows one vehicle on its side blocking the sidewalk. She says firefighters are using the “jaws of life” to get to someone. Scanner: California is closed both ways between Bradford and Andover.
10:30 PM: If you are seeing police in nearby neighborhoods, they are investigating witnesses’ reports of at least two people who may have been involved and got out of vehicle(s) and fled the scene, “white males with white or light colored T-shirts, one in shorts, one in pants, both late teens, early 20s, slender build, about 6′ tall” (per scanner). No word yet on injuries; we do know a female was the person cut out of one car, the white one off to the right side of our first photo.
10:39 PM: From Katie at the scene: Witnesses say the two young men were in the white car (photo added above) and took off, apparently carrying a dog, leaving the woman trapped inside. The car that’s on its side (added: a Honda Element) was parked, no one inside. WSB’s Patrick Sand at the scene talked with precinct Capt. Pierre Davis, who says the woman was conscious and talking to paramedics at last report, and says they have conflicting reports on whether the two got away on foot or in a vehicle.
(This & next 2 photos by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
10:50 PM: Police are bringing in the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad, which likely means California SW will be closed at the scene for some hours while they investigate. The 17-year-old girl rescued from the white car has been taken to the hospital; SFD says she’s in stable condition.
11:56 PM: Investigation continues. No word yet on whether police have found either or both of the people they’re looking for. As noted in comments, the car’s owner came to the scene, saying he wasn’t involved, that someone else (who he reportedly knew) had been driving his car. The aforementioned dog was reported to be his.
Also in case you were wondering, the owners of the parked car that was hit and flipped (above) are aware of it … they told us they heard the crash and came out to find out it had been hit. (Added: You’ll note at the left of Christopher’s photo above, a second parked car was damaged too.) We’ll update when California reopens, and of course if there’s any other new information in the meantime.
2:45 AM: California SW is opening again – police are reopening the northbound lane and will route southbound traffic into the center lane for now.
3:19 AM: A commenter identifying herself as the injured girl’s mom says that the 17-year-old has “a broken collarbone, broken pelvis, and a collapsed lung.”
6:46 AM: Traffic flow at the scene was reported to be back to normal by daybreak. We expect to get an update from SPD later this morning and will add the info here.
ADDED 3:06 PM: Police say they’ve found everyone they were looking for, but no arrests so far, explains Det. Patrick Michaud: “We have spoken to all parties involved and they have denied racing. We will continue our investigation and if we determine that they were actually racing we can pursue charges after the fact. If anyone has videos or pictures to the contrary please call 206-684-8923.”
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