CRASH UPDATES: 1 hurt in Delridge crash; vehicle flips on icy California Way

ORIGINAL 8:30 PM REPORT: Two traffic alerts:

DELRIDGE/THISTLE CRASH: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo from a car vs. moving van collision on Delridge near Thistle. They report an ambulance was on scene (as well as SFD Engine 11, which has since cleared, according to the fire log). We’re off to check whether the vehicles have been cleared yet.

CALIFORNIA WAY BLACK ICE: Another texter wanted to warn others about black ice on California Way, which connects Harbor Avenue and California Avenue SW – slick enough that they briefly lost control and almost collided with another vehicle. The temperature’s expected to fall below freezing again tonight, so this could be a concern in other places overnight and tomorrow morning. (Note – Minutes after publishing this, we received another text reporting a crash in that area – nothing on the 911 log so we are off to check on that too.)

9:02 PM (UPDATE ON BOTH INCIDENTS): California is closed just north of Hamilton Viewpoint. Delridge should be clear by now – we stopped there while heading here and a tow truck was at work in the SB lanes. Police told us one man from the moving van was taken to the hospital.

9:34 PM UPDATE: While two people have mentioned a flipped vehicle on the California hill between Harbor Avenue and Hamilton Viewpoint, we could not get close enough to verify, with SPD also blocking the road just southwest of Harbor [map] and the reported flipped vehicle not in view from either end. Whatever happened, there’s been no medical callout. While heading away from the area on Harbor, we did see an SDOT sand/plow truck headed toward it. By the way, if you’re looking for an alternative between Admiral and Harbor/Alki, we wouldn’t recommend Fairmount Avenue – that’s what we tried, and it’s icy much of the way, even slushy toward the north end.

10:20 PM UPDATE: Deborah sent a photo of the flipped vehicle:

She says, “No injuries. Lots of nice people stopped to help or inquire. Great police and tow truck support. All clear now.”

Ssf December 30, 2015 (9:17 pm)

Earlier tonight sw admiral way eastbound where you take right to go Luna park was wet. Looked like runoff from the hill. I can see it totally freezing and being a mess.

Wsgal December 30, 2015 (9:18 pm)

California heading down to Harbor is a real mess, lots of runoff from Hamilton, ground is always wet. Glad they closed it, people speed up and down that road, bicyclists share the narrow lanes and ice on top of that – dangerous. Just the other night heard cars racing up and down California near Hamilton…

JanS December 31, 2015 (12:17 am)

there’s always runoff from that hill on Admiral by the exit to Luna Park. The city knows about that, and they know that the same happens on California Way, from past experience. The weather report is public knowledge. I wish the city would be a bit more proactive and take care of these things before they get dangerous. Sanding, salting, whatever it takes.

dsa December 31, 2015 (1:07 am)

Something changed. There used to be an interceptor ditch or drain that prevented water from flowing across the street like that. I don’t know how long ago, years probably, but I don’t remember water at the bottom of Admiral being a problem.