FOLLOWUP: $50,000 bail for driver in West Marginal Way crash

6:03 PM: A judge set bail at $50,000 today for the 19-year-old driver arrested after Tuesday night’s crash on West Marginal Way SW. He is under investigation for vehicular assault, suspected of being under the influence when his Audi (at right, above) hit another car and both crashed on the west side of the roadway. The probable-cause documents from this afternoon’s hearing clarify some of what happened. They say the seriously injured person who firefighters had to cut out of a vehicle was the suspect’s passenger in the Audi, not in the other car (whose driver also was hurt).

The documents say the suspect, a Top Hat resident, told police he was headed northbound and speeding – up to 55 mph, he said, in a 40-mph zone – when he lost control and veered into the opposite lanes, hitting the other car, which was headed southbound. The DUI squad officer who wrote the report said he detected the smell of alcohol and marijuana on the driver’s breath, and that the driver said he had had “a shot” and “a joint” earlier. He refused to take a breath test, so police obtained a search warrant to get a blood sample at the hospital. The driver was treated at and released from Harborview before being booked into jail less than seven hours after the crash. He’s due back in court tomorrow, when we’ll find out about charges.

1:53 AM: The suspect is out of jail after posting bond.

JanS November 3, 2016 (6:47 pm)

hmmm…19 years old, thinking you’re infallible, driving a fast car, and under the influence. Now what could possibly go wrong ?

dsa November 3, 2016 (7:25 pm)

21 is the legal age, difficult to wait.

justme November 3, 2016 (8:05 pm)

Well, I know the person who witnessed this. I heard both cars were racing and going at least 90mph.

WSB November 3, 2016 (8:20 pm)

There’s not a word about “racing” in the probable-cause documents. However, sometimes the charging papers – if the suspect is charged – will include additional information, and we will be checking on that tomorrow. If your friend/acquaintance has NOT spoken with police already, they should.
theresa griffin November 4, 2016 (12:30 pm)

This accident involved my daughter who was hit head on and has a broken neck. she is lucky to be alive and not paralyzed

I would love to have the name of the witness who said these 2 were speeding. One of the cars got away. the driver is in custody but his passenger may not make it. Please call me 206-271-1928

Eddie November 3, 2016 (8:20 pm)

Refused the breath test, so he’ll be waiting for something for a while, like the privilege of driving.

Former 11th resident November 3, 2016 (8:44 pm)

If the police know the license number from the eye witnesses for a hit-and-run, do the police go after the driver? I happened to be an victim of one from Wednesday evening in Capitol Hill, my car is totalled. I want to press charges to the woman who went “really high speed” in a residential street, and crashed into my car, then pulled her car out of mine, and drove to the end of the block, got out to take a look at her her, then drove off. She drove around to come back and stopped, looked at the damage of my car, then drove off. When I stood by my car helplessly after my car, a few people came to me “is that your car? I saw what happened.” and told me what they saw. Some made a police report as she came back, got a license plate #, and the police has the info. The officer told me to have my insurance co.request the report for my hit and run, both officers told me that’s a crime, she was under the influence of something (happend at 3:45pm!) she can go to jail for this.” But they didn’t tell me they would go after her, or I can press a charge against her.

Does anyone know the case like mine, do they go arrest her? What’s that mean “I press charge?” If I don’t do anything, she would not pay the price for she did? How do I do that? She took away my lovely car I just changed my alternator 6 days ago, (didn’t even last a week) and I paid over $500 for that. I was looking forward for another 10 years out of my Civic, and now, all of the sudden, the woman took it away from me, and she’s not paying price? Please help, how do I press charge against the woman? The driver in this 19 years old was arrested on the spot, but my case?

Pops November 3, 2016 (10:04 pm)

Not surprised. Sorry this happened to you. Your insurance co may not charge you the deductible if they find you weren’t at fault and the damage is over a certain amount. The ins co will go after the person that hit you for the money. So, hopefully the police report has info for them to go after the other driver. Seems like the police should give you a copy. Cops can’t go after the other driver because she could argue she drank afterthe accident.
B November 3, 2016 (10:16 pm)

I would suggest talking to a lawyer

Mike November 3, 2016 (8:55 pm)

Why is this bail more than rapists?

Neighbor November 3, 2016 (10:13 pm)

People that drive under the influence and also recklessly should never be allowed to drive again. The streets are crowded enough; we don’t need selfish jerks like this on the road.

JK November 3, 2016 (10:36 pm)

Sounds like this kid is well on his way as an Audi driver.

Dale November 3, 2016 (11:11 pm)

The hard part is determining if she has insurance. If so, her carrier will take care of your property damage (s). This will include the actual cash value of the car (ACV), sales tax at 9.8%, title transfer fee and prorated remain license tabs. In addition, a reasonable amount of loss of use for the totalled out car. If she is not insured then your own UMPD coverage will kick in. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage. A $100 deductible will apply versus a typical higher Collision deductible. You may have loss of use benefits too under the UMPD coverage. It depends on the carrier’s endorsement wording. Finally, you can order the Police Report online for $8 at the Washington State Patrol website. It’s a clearinghouse for almost all reports in the State, including city of Seattle. This will aid you in your recovery efforts against her carrier or your own if you have physical damage coverage on the Civic. I doubt an attorney would help you in this case.

unknown November 4, 2016 (8:35 am)

Former 11th Resident…. I was rear-ended a few years ago and we exchanged insurance info at the scene and when I got home I filed an accident report with the Police and also my insurance. My insurance paid for the damage to my car (rear bumper) then to find out from my Ins. that the person who hit me her insurance was expired even though her card said she was covered (date on it) so no money was ever recovered and no one would track her down (police or insurance co.) then a few months later we were looking into getting new insurance for better rates and come to find out that accident was on my driving record because I used my insurance to cover the damage! It wasn’t even my fault so yes have your insurance go after the person that damaged your car but if she doesn’t pay or gets caught and your insurance pays you for damages it will be on your driving record. Can’t win for lose sometimes. :(

AlaskaJunctionJohn November 4, 2016 (11:54 am)

The penalty for this should be long term revocation of driving privileges. I’m 100% in favor of a one-strike system for reckless driving. Accidents do happen, but if you deliberately drive recklessly, dangerously, text while driving, drive drunk, etc… there should be zero tolerance. I certainly don’t want to have to share the road with these a—–es.

Former 11th resident November 4, 2016 (12:20 pm)

Thank you for everyone! I’m on my rental car now, my car IS now officially totaled. My car had some damage prior to the accident, and I don’t know if they deduct from the blue book value, also, I just put a new alternator last Thursday, that only lasted for 6 days, didn’t even made it to 1 week. I Paid $544 for that. Does anyone know about they would lower the check amount because of the damage unrelated to the accident? Also, they could add $544 that I just put into within a week prior to the accident?

justme November 4, 2016 (1:43 pm)

Sorry, I didn’t phrase it correctly. The car that got away was racing with this guy and according to witness going upwards of 90mph. The witness spoke with police at the scene and offered to testify. Contact info was given to police.

So sorry to hear about your daughter. He needs to be punished further.

WSB November 4, 2016 (3:51 pm)

The paperwork is in for the charges filed today against 19-year-old Trevor Muna, the Audi driver. Separate story to come. But as does happen, the charging documents have much more information than the probable cause information, and allege he was racing somebody else when he lost control and hit the smaller car, which was NOT involved in racing – in fact, the charging documents say the driver of the small car was right behind her husband’s car and he saw it all happen. The documents also say the 20-year-old passenger riding with Muna remains unconscious at the hospital (the woman driving the other car in the crash is home recovering). – TR

bolo November 4, 2016 (6:02 pm)

Former 11th resident, you do not have to accept the insurance co. first offer to total your car. If you think the car is worth more than what they offer, you can counter-negotiate and probably get them to raise their offer if you back it up with proof of similar vehicle selling for more.

Time consuming and annoying dealing with bureaucracy/excessive paperwork/faxing/etc. but it worked for me when the ins. co. lowballed the value of my car when they totalled it.

Sorry, comment time is over.