UPDATE: Cars, motorcycle collide at Fauntleroy/Alaska, 3 people hurt

(WSB photo, wider look at scene, substituted for originally published cameraphone pic)

6:31 PM: A crash is blocking Fauntleroy/Alaska both ways – avoid the area for now.

ADDED 6:37 PM: Two cars and a motorcycle are involved, our crew at the scene is told, and three people are being taken to the hospital – the motorcycle rider to Harborview via SFD medic unit, two people from the cars via private ambulance. The collision happened near the southeast corner of the intersection (by Les Schwab Tires). No life-threatening injuries, and TCIS is not being called out, so this might be cleared soon.

6:55 PM UPDATE: From SDOT:

UPDATE: Collision: Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Alaska St. Only NB lanes remain blocked. Tow truck is at the scene. pic.twitter.com/WAfeiHQMH4

— seattledot (@seattledot) April 21, 2015

7:40 PM: Scene’s clear, per SDOT.

alki resident April 20, 2015 (7:03 pm)

What kind of cycle please?

WSB April 20, 2015 (7:05 pm)

I don’t know the make. It was already upright by the time we got there but it’s in the photo I’m about to add.
- WSB April 20, 2015 (7:07 pm)
  
  Make that, the photo we are *substituting* for the photo at top – it’s wider and shows the motorcycle as well as the two cars.

smokeycretin9 April 20, 2015 (7:20 pm)

It appears to be a red Kawasaki KLR 650. I hope everyone will be alright.

West Seattle Hipster April 20, 2015 (8:55 pm)

Does that stretch of road have a history of accidents?

Jenava April 20, 2015 (8:56 pm)

I’m curious what caused it. The motorcycle looked ok, other than being on the sidewalk (not that that means the rider wasn’t significantly hurt), the other two cars were a mess! I wonder if someone tried to turn left onto Alaska eastbound from Fauntleroy southbound?

WSB April 20, 2015 (9:00 pm)

It was moved to the sidewalk. That’s all we know. We reported on this one because it was affecting traffic, and that’s how it came to our attention – it wasn’t a major callout on the scale of the two crashes overnight.

slyc April 20, 2015 (9:33 pm)

One car drove through a red light driving down Alaska St. and struck the other car and motorcycle. Hope everyone is ok.

bolo April 20, 2015 (9:42 pm)

Isn’t SW Alaska supposed to get a road diet?

Vicki Thomas April 20, 2015 (10:30 pm)

I was heading up to the West Seattle bridge, I was stopped at a red light. I saw what happened a car going very fast hit the motorcycle. The driver of the car going fast appeared to have an older lady inside, I saw blood dripping down her face. I then saw a young woman who had been a passenger on the motorcycle sitting on the road before she was moved to sidewalk. Her foot and leg were twisted up into a awkward position it looked like her leg and or leg were broken:(! So many stopped as I did to rush over to the victims. It was horrible to witness! I hope everyone will be ok!! I said my prayers.

ChefJoe April 20, 2015 (10:51 pm)

A road diet further than the large swaths between california and fauntleroy that already have 1 car traffic lane, 1 bus lane, and a painted bike lane ?

I think there were some additional considerations about optimizing rapid ride times/routes/possible lane dedication changes which I don’t recall actually being made into any actions.

Canyon Road April 20, 2015 (11:00 pm)

That intersection has become super complicated of late. With the lane restrictions due to the construction on both western corners of Fauntleroy and the increased pedestrian traffic in the area, there is a ton going on there. I am not surprised that someone ran a red light — distractions galore prevail in that intersection! I hope the injuries are minor.

Native April 20, 2015 (11:34 pm)

There were a number of accidents before it was reconfigured. Just a bad intersection all around. The increase in density is just going to make this a more common occurrence.

sophista-tiki April 21, 2015 (3:21 am)

a road diet doesn’t keep people from running red lights.

Wendell April 21, 2015 (7:43 am)

Heading north or south at that intersection is scary all the time for motorcyclists. I’ve come close to being a statistic a few times because of drivers taking the corner too fast (either direction) and cutting the corner, and an entrance to a gas station isn’t the brightest idea either. That intersection needs a roundabout.

Born on Alki 59 April 21, 2015 (7:47 am)

Hang up and pay attention, be courteous whether behind the wheel, handlebars or on foot, be aware of your surroundings and look past the vehicle in front of you. Obey the rules of the road. 95% of the problem solved. Road diets only confuse people who can’t think for themselves. IMHO.

CMP April 21, 2015 (8:10 am)

Interesting suggestion for a roundabout at Fauntleroy and Alaska…I really like the concept but am afraid SDOT would never consider that with all of the articulated buses that travel that corridor. It really is a bad intersection with northbound Fauntleroy having to cut around the gas station sharply and few cars seem capable of staying in their lane. This is one road diet I’m actually looking forward to.

West Sea Neighbor April 21, 2015 (11:05 am)

Amen, @Born on Alki.

furor scribendi April 21, 2015 (12:08 pm)

Wendell – – couldn’t agree more. That intersection begs for a big roundabout……

colleen April 21, 2015 (2:02 pm)

Speaking as a pedestrian who has stood waiting for the light change on this corner many, many times, drivers run this light all the time. Construction trucks run this light. Masses of BIKE riders run this light. I am amazed there are not more accidents there and at the equally dangerous crosswalk on the other side of the street.

sardines April 21, 2015 (3:23 pm)

Cyclists run traffic lights?! I don’t believe it. :)
Yes, motorized vehicles run ’em too but if there were to be an accident, which mode has more protection?
And everyone should yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, that includes cyclists. Pedestrians shouldn’t walk when they don’t have the walk light.. I’ve seen this way to many times in West Seattle, downtown etc. If we all want to get a long and not have “accidents” then we all need to follow the rules of the road. No one is above these laws.. blowing them off puts everyone at risk and sometimes creates divisions/divisiveness.

JayDee April 21, 2015 (6:03 pm)

As the commenter of last resort, I noticed when I was walking to West Seattle Produce that the Fauntleroy light was staying green forever, and the eastbound Alaska light had maybe 15 seconds of green, and traffic was backed up to the BofA.

CMP April 21, 2015 (8:48 pm)

JayDee, that light cycle is highly inconsistent. On weekdays starting as early as 5:30, the Fauntleroy N-S traffic light seems to be green for at least 90 seconds. Then on the weekends, it’s maybe 30 seconds at best. I swear the longer light cycle encourages speeding and running red lights (common sense talking here, not a computer model). Unfortunately, I’m not a traffic engineer so common sense doesn’t always prevail. It’s a wonky intersection to say the least!

Elle Nell April 21, 2015 (9:43 pm)

BornonAlki- YES!! You need to start a champaign…we are rapidly losing our basic common courtesies.. Super sad

sam-c April 22, 2015 (11:08 am)

speaking as a pedestrian, driver, cyclist on the rare occasion, bus rider sometimes……. anyway.

pedestrians run lights at that intersection too. I almost hit a pedestrian there. This was several years ago, pre-rapid ride, pre-construction, pre-lane reconfigurations. I was turning west onto Alaska, from south bound Fauntleroy. I got a green right turn arrow… and took my foot off the gas to start going. out of the corner of my left eye, I see pedestrians coming at me, like 3 of them who had gotten off the bus or something, and decided to cross Fauntleroy against a blinking red hand. Scariest almost-accident I ever had. almost had a heart attack. So yeah, pedestrians ignore lights too. Yes, I had a green right turn arrow. That is why I was so freaked out to see pedestrians coming towards me and the front of my car.

I hate that intersection.

Sorry, comment time is over.