UPDATE: Crash at 16th and Thistle sends 1 to hospital

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

1:51 PM: Big “automobile rescue” response for a crash at 16th and Thistle in Highland Park. Avoid the area. More to come.

1:59 PM: More units are on the way – the call has been escalated to “heavy rescue.”

2:11 PM: Via scanner, SFD is treating a 24-year-old man who will be taken to Harborview Medical Center. Injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. Meantime, the crash is affecting Metro Routes 125 and 128.

2:56 PM: Photo added. Police told us this is being investigated as a hit-and-run; this comment includes what a witness reported seeing. The medical exchange we heard via scanner described the victim as having been hit “at high speed.”

amouser December 14, 2016 (1:54 pm)

16th is completely blocked.

Jamie December 14, 2016 (2:07 pm)

Looks like it was one man. They got him out of the car. He is moving. But they cut the whole top of the car off to get him out

Bonnie December 14, 2016 (2:03 pm)

I just drove through there 1/2 hour ago and no crash. Must have just missed it. I hope everybody is okay. btw-when I went up Highland Park Way (just 1/2 hr ago) lots and lots of cops and they were dragging someone (I thought a body at first!) handcuffed out of the greenbelt area.

Evan December 14, 2016 (2:10 pm)

Bonnie, I live very close by to the crash and the Officer on scene said it was a hit and run so they must have caught the guy.
- WSB December 14, 2016 (2:39 pm)
  
  We are still trying to sort out with SPD exactly what the circumstances are and whether anyone is in custody.

Rhymes w/ Berry December 14, 2016 (2:55 pm)

My co-worker said the accident happened in right in front of her and that she witnessed the whole thing. She was turning right onto 16th Avenue SW. Her car and the black car were facing each other at the stop light. The black car was waiting to take a right and started to turn when the white car, traveling at high speeds, came towards the black car. The black car stopped in its tracks and the white car hit it. This accident is very, very, very serious. My co-worker was the first to call 911 but she doesn’t believe that the person in the black car will survive. The driver in the white car, got out and ran. So sad. So tragic.

WSB December 14, 2016 (2:59 pm)

Thanks. The person who was taken to the hospital was conscious and not described as having life-threatening injuries as of this point – I heard the initial medical transmission between the SFD crew and the hospital, and we also spoke to an SFD PIO, so here’s hoping.

ktrapp December 14, 2016 (3:44 pm)

Very scary stuff. I take this intersection every morning and evening. Turning onto 16th, there definitely can be limited sight lines. But as long as traffic on 16th is going at or near the speed limit, it’s never been a problem. Looking at that car, and where it landed, the other car very definitely wasn’t going anywhere near the speed limit. Hope the driver ends up okay, and they catch the other person.

Neighbor December 14, 2016 (3:46 pm)

Whoa. Hit and run doesn’t quite describe that wreck to me if it was done by someone traveling at excessive speed. It seems like manslaughter.

Chuck December 14, 2016 (3:47 pm)

Holy hell. Very glad the person in the black car is even alive. Amazing! You can be sure the POS driving the (unpictured) white car was either under the influence and/or driving a stolen car. I hope they find that loser, fast. From the description above, this could have been any of us just quietly going about our day, driving defensively. Scary stuff.

waikikigirl December 14, 2016 (4:36 pm)

OMG how can this be “Injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.” I just can’t believe the driver of the car is alive! Someone was looking out for him thank goodness!

Alki Resident December 14, 2016 (5:20 pm)

What a scary site. Prayers to the victim.

Darryll December 14, 2016 (5:48 pm)

Speeding and general reckless driving are serious problem on that stretch of 16th, and all the side streets between 9th SW and Delridge. Drivers need to start using their heads.

Keith December 14, 2016 (9:26 pm)

I came upon the scene before the first responders got there. I asked every one on the scene if they had a fire extinguisher. No one did, including myself. Can’t imagine the helplessness if the black car had caught on fire. Going to buy one tomorrow and carry it in my car.

Chris Witwer December 14, 2016 (10:43 pm)

Thanks for sharing that, Keith.

CitySmack December 16, 2016 (2:56 pm)

All way STOP: This guy never touched his brakes, blew through the stop sign. Good thing I was moving slow or he would have T-boned me.

CitySmack December 16, 2016 (2:59 pm)

Significant starts at 57 sec. At north end of White Center northbound onto Delridge.
Alan December 18, 2016 (2:10 pm)

For those interested, the violation is at about 1 minute 10 seconds into the video. When I saw where this was, I knew where the violation would. One morning I sat on the bench at Fresh Flours and watched as one car after another blew through the 17th & Delridge intersection. Some slowed down to a crawl but almost nobody came to a full stop. I saw multiple people go through that “all stop” intersection at 35mph. That intersection was modified quite a while ago, so it is hard to believe that so many people are unaware of the stop signs.
- Erika December 19, 2016 (9:57 pm)
  
  I have to say that redesign of the intersection feels really poorly thought out. I can totally understand why people in the inside lane heading south might think they don’t have to stop. I can not think of another intersection in Seattle where multiple lanes traveling in the same direction have a Stop sign. It should either be a single lane in one direction only or a roundabout at that intersection.
  - Alan December 19, 2016 (10:18 pm)
    
    I agree that it is a strange intersection. There is really no reason for the SB Delridge lane to stop when they are turning right onto 17th, other than for pedestrians. People continuing straight might assume that the stop sign is for the turn lane and that the stop line is there for the crosswalk. That being said, I witnessed cars running the signs while coming NB on both Delridge and 17th, as well as SB turning onto 17th. For those, I can find no excuse and makes me doubt that there is any real excuse for the other.

Bruce December 18, 2016 (1:35 pm)

That was my son who was hit in this accident. He will survive but suffered many traumatic injuries. His recovery will be long and painful. I want to thank everyone who said prayers. They have not caught the suspect. If anyone has information about the person who hit my son and ran away please contact the Seattle Police department. No details on this case are insignificant. Thank you.

WSB December 18, 2016 (1:56 pm)

Thank you very much for the update. Reports on traffic incidents are even harder to get than other SPD cases so I haven’t had any further information with which to write a followup. Hoping for full healing for your son – TR
- Bruce December 18, 2016 (2:35 pm)
  
  Can you somehow help get the word out seeking information from anyone who may have information about the suspect?
  - WSB December 18, 2016 (2:40 pm)
    
    Please e-mail us – editor@westseattleblog.com

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