UPDATE: 2 cars collide on 26th SW at SW 106th/107th

| Shorewood | West Seattle news | White Center

(West Seattle Blog/White Center Now photo by Patrick Sand)

11:46 AM: A busy route between West Seattle and White Center/Shorewood is blocked right now by a crash response. 26th SW is closed at the intersection where SW 106th becomes 107th because of the crash in our photo above. Our crew says 2 vehicles were involved and one person is being taken to Harborview. King County’s major crash investigations team is on the way out so this is likely to be closed for a while. Our crew says east-west traffic is being allowed through one lane at a time, but we’d advise avoiding the area entirely.

12:11 PM: Metro has sent this re-route alert – “not serving stop at 26th/106th, use stop at Seola Beach Dr. SW & SW 106th or 26th/SW 100th.”

2:21 PM: Just went back to check – intersection completely blocked.

3:53 PM: Metro has just texted/tweeted that its bus stop on 26th SW has reopened, which we’ll take as an announcement that the intersection has opened to all vehicles.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: A bit more information from KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West – the collision happened around 11:13 this morning. The driver of the Toyota SUV suffered a “head laceration” and reportedly lost consciousness at some point so that’s why he was taken to Harborview. She expects access to the crash report at some point tomorrow so we’ll check back to see if there’s anything more to report.

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: Sgt. West gave us this additional information: The 61-year-old man driving the Toyota Sequoia had the green light; the 69-year-old woman driving the Nissan Murano briefly stopped while northbound on 26th but then proceeded to run the red and hit the Toyota, which then hit the light pole. Its driver was taken to the hospital with a head injury, but as his wife reported in comments, he has been released and is back home.

She also says their dog, assisted at the scene as shown in the reader photo above (thanks for sending it and our apologies for not adding it yesterday), was found at a shelter.

AlaskaJunctionJohn October 24, 2016 (12:21 pm)

Driverless cars can’t come fast enough as far as I’m concerned. Fie on this dangerous incompetence.

Seattlite October 24, 2016 (1:59 pm)

Everyday when I drive the streets I’m shocked that there are not more accidents. Yesterday a guy was wanting to go through a stop sign even though east and west traffic had the right-a-way. What is wrong with obeying posted traffic signage, traffic light signals, rules of the road as written in the driver’s manual?

JC October 24, 2016 (3:05 pm)

Man that looks like one bad hit. The grey vehicle is Toyota Sequia and it must have hit hard into that poll. This is a nasty intersection. People don’t have patience to wait behind someone making a left and they end up going around in the RIGHT TURN ONLY Lane.

KM October 24, 2016 (3:23 pm)

That behaviour happens all the time (I would say 80% of my trips on that stretch?) on Alaska between 35th and California as well. People often use the Right Turn/Bus Only lanes to pass and go around vehicles in the general purpose lane. Dangerous for all involved.

sam-c October 24, 2016 (3:13 pm)

any word on how the vehicle occupants are doing / will do?

JC October 24, 2016 (3:31 pm)

Yeah, hope everyone is ok? Do they know the cause of this accident?
- WSB October 24, 2016 (3:44 pm)
  
  As with most crashes, what we published is everything we know. I’m going to go back over in a few minutes since I have no other way of finding out even whether the road has opened since I went by at 2:20. I’m also asking KCSO media if they have any info on condition/cause, and will add if they do. – TR

Tom S October 24, 2016 (3:47 pm)

They didn’t roll over this time… Crazy.

WSB October 24, 2016 (3:52 pm)

Metro just texted/tweeted that the bus stop on 26th SW northbound there has reopened, so instead of taking 25 minutes to drive there and back, we’ll take that as word the road has reopened … TR

Kristen October 24, 2016 (4:07 pm)

Just drove through the intersection and it is open. Felt some debris clank around under the car when we went past (glass or gravel?) and could still smell the flare guns that had been fired off.

WSB October 24, 2016 (4:10 pm)

Thanks for the confirmation!

Paul October 24, 2016 (6:45 pm)

I would love to see some police speeding enforcement on 106th/107th. I walk that road every day; it is scary to be a pedestrian. Some are exceeding the speed limit by 15-20 MPH or more and refuse to stop at crosswalks. I’m unsure it’s that Seattle or King County’s jurisdiction but a police presence is sorely needed.

AMD October 24, 2016 (7:58 pm)

It’s KCSO’s jurisdiction.

That road is bad for speeders, and that intersection is exceptionally bad. There are two travel lanes in each direction but everyone treats both as if they’re turn or through lanes (depending on how slow the guy next to you is). I hope that no one was seriously hurt in this incident and I hope they can get some better signage (or enforcement) of this intersection.

AMD October 24, 2016 (8:25 pm)

And Metro just tweeted that the 22 is being rerouted around this intersection again. Is there another accident?

WSB October 24, 2016 (8:39 pm)

That’s a slightly different configuration than the one from earlier (I see it on twitter but my phone didn’t go off and no one has mentioned a crash). Will have to go take a look …
- WSB October 24, 2016 (9:08 pm)
  
  … Must have been a mistake, as there’s absolutely nothing happening there, not on 26th nor on 106th/107th. Not to mention, and I wish I’d thought of this before leaving … the 22 doesn’t run this late anyway.
  - AMD October 24, 2016 (9:16 pm)
    
    Sorry for the wasted trip, but thanks for checking! Was a very puzzling tweet…
    - WSB October 24, 2016 (9:37 pm)
      
      Since we’re in the south end, not that far – Also, I did obtain a bit more information from Sgt. West @ KCSO (and she hopes to find more tomorrow), so I’m adding to the story above.

Lois October 25, 2016 (7:50 am)

My husband was in the Toyota He has significant injuries but is back home resting he had our brown Labrador with him who is missing since the crash. He is about 80 pounds wearing a red collar His name is Jake If anyone sees him please let me know hoping he will find his way home and is aafe

WSB October 25, 2016 (7:59 am)

Lois – we received a reader photo I never added – showing officers carrying a brown dog. Check with county animal control if you haven’t already.

heylady October 25, 2016 (8:34 am)

This intersection is on our route to school and otherwise frequently traveled. I never trust the lights as I have had too many close calls with light runners and other misjudgements. So, if you see cars waiting for a moment at green lights it might be others like me who look both ways regardless of the signal. Speedy recovery to Lois’ husband and hope Jake gets home soon and safe.

T Rex October 25, 2016 (8:45 am)

I sure hope you find Jake, glad your husband is OK.

Lois October 25, 2016 (10:10 am)

Thanks to the photo, found Jake at the shelter. I can pick him up after 12. Thanks for all of your good wishes

Cori October 25, 2016 (10:34 am)

Hope your dog is ok. How scary for you all. Best wishes for a full recovery!
KM October 25, 2016 (11:15 am)

Good to hear you will be reunited with your dog, speedy recovery to your family!

JC October 25, 2016 (12:27 pm)

I am so happy your husband is ok and that you have reunited with your dog and is ok. He will be a little shaken up but he’ll be ok. I am curious as to know what happened. This intersection is a dicey one as I travel it everyday.