FOLLOWUP: Online fundraiser for Admiral District crash victim

(Tuesday night photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)

As noted in the newest comments following WSB coverage of the Admiral District crash that sent a woman to the hospital Tuesday night, an online fundraiser is now set up for her. Via this GoFundMe page, organizers identify the victim as Britt Russell. She is an employee at Mission Cantina, and was headed to work when hit by a driver at/near California/Walker. According to the fundraising page, she suffered numerous serious injuries but has been “stabilized.” The fundraiser is meant to help with an expected long path to recovery:

Britt is strong. While being such a kind and loving person she also has a fighting spirit. She will eventually recover but we know she will be in the hospital or in rehab for most of the next year. We are looking to support Britt and her family’s medical expenses outside of insurance as well as travel for her family living outside of the country. Her entire immediate and extended family live in Australia and airfare is quite costly. We know how important having family close by is to the healing process.

Meantime, we are still following up with Seattle Police regarding the investigation; no new information is available so far.

Jort Sandwich December 1, 2016 (4:37 pm)

The penalty for jaywalking should not be “death penalty,” and crossing a street mid-block is not a capital offense.

Auto drivers who speed kill a lot more people than jaywalkers. Cars need to be slowed down to accommodate non-car road users, especially in a thriving, urban environment where people should have an expectation that they can cross a street without fear of imminent death. If drivers are incapable of limiting their own speeds, then perhaps it’s time to step in and limit it for them. There is no “constitutional right” to drive as fast as you want and take your chances with people’s lives.

I am fully supportive of governing devices that limit speed within city streets to a maximum amount, and I also support speed cameras or devices that automatically issue increasing financial penalties concurrent with increasing frequency. As far as I’m concerned, people who “buzz” cyclists and pedestrians to “teach them who’s boss” should lose their license permanently for eternity. We wouldn’t allow somebody to keep owning a gun if they kept pointing at people’s heads to “teach them who’s boss.”

People will stop speeding if it becomes socially unacceptable to speed. Right now, too many people view it as a “cat and mouse” situation where it’s OK to speed — as long as you don’t get caught.

Mike December 1, 2016 (5:03 pm)

I feel that witnesses should contact the police, or the family, or friends of the family. I smell an insurance battle down the road where the driver’s insurance is going to argue that it was Britt’s fault- even though it sounds like the guy driving was going way over the speed limit before he slammed on the brakes. Witness statements of the event could be invaluable down the line.

Al December 1, 2016 (5:31 pm)

IVe been cross that road since I was a kid. Had some close calls because a driver wanted to make a point. Happens on alki all the time. Drivers slow down.

The Rog December 1, 2016 (6:32 pm)

Four years ago my boyfriend and I were crossing at the crosswalk in front of Metropolitan Market, with the pedestrian right of way. A truck stopped at the light opposite of us decided to go and made a turn heading right for me. My boyfriend grabbed me and threw me out of harms way, but he himself got hit. The driver was 100% wrong. Yet, this sort of thing happens every day. To me it does not matter if there’s a “crosswalk” involved or not. People are insane and disrespectful of how precious life is. I hope the driver realizes that they should have been more alert. I’m sending love and light for a thorough recovery, and that all involved hold what is precious in life a bit closer in their every day thoughts. We all can stand to chill out a bit. *thank you witnesses and fund starters!

JayDee December 1, 2016 (7:10 pm)

If Britt owned a car and had car insurance, and unless she declined the coverage in writing, the underinsured/non-insured driver coverage would cover her which is a requirement of state law. If she files a claim, she should be prepared to be treated like a leper by her insurance carrier which is one problem. I was hit downtown in similar circumstance (Pedestrian in crosswalk) and my insurance did more to help me than the crappy insurance the BMW X3 driver that hit me did(He leased) So his rates went up and I have a crushed vertebrae for the rest of my life. I would recommend a personal injury lawyer except mine retired.

Al December 1, 2016 (7:24 pm)

I agree even with a flash light I’ve had to jump out of the way of many cars. They don’t seem to care

Alki Resident December 1, 2016 (7:33 pm)

I read the list of things that Brit has broken and its horrific. Please people slow down and pay attention. Its an absolute miracle Brit is alive really.

sbre December 1, 2016 (8:00 pm)

(the other AL)

It takes less time to slow down or wait then it does to have an accident, and how much slow, down time will you have if your impatience severely injures or kills someone.

sbre

natinstl December 1, 2016 (9:24 pm)

Do we know that the driver was actually speeding?

mok December 1, 2016 (10:24 pm)

No, we don’t.
- mok December 1, 2016 (10:25 pm)
  
  There are also conflicting witness reports as to whether the pedestrian was in the middle of the road or a crosswalk/unmarked crosswalk.

Neighbor December 1, 2016 (10:18 pm)

Jort and the Rog are right. People who speed should not be allowed to drive ever again. I do not like having cameras used by government, but given the harm that many drivers are doing and the lack of support from the police via enforcement, speed cameras should be allowed with permanent loss of license after second violation. If you don’t speed and are an attentive driver, there shouldn’t be a problem.

cjboffoli December 1, 2016 (10:41 pm)

There is nothing I hate more than boorish drivers who think cars rule the road and that people and bikes are an annoyance. Or people who speed and drive in ways that put others in danger. When it comes down to pedestrian v. car I’m firmly on Team Pedestrian.

But I have to say that I was at the scene and saw the driver of this car – who appeared to be a teenaged boy – and his father who had also come to the scene. Both were ashen faced with the gravitas of what had happened. And having been a teenaged boy myself I can think of plenty of times when I did stupid things or made some serious errors in judgment, sometimes behind the wheel of a car. The difference for me is that I was lucky and that in my time as a foolish young man I didn’t cause harm to myself or to anyone else.

Reading the list of injuries that this young woman sustained it is easy to become very angry about this accident. It is senseless, really, and she should not have to suffer in this way. And while it is certainly another opportunity to advocate for the safety of pedestrians in this growing, ever denser city, it is also worth remembering that we are, all of us, human. We make mistakes. We sometimes do stupid, selfish things without a thought to the consequences for others, especially when we’re teenagers. But I have no doubt that this accident was life changing for this young man and his family as I saw the look in their eyes. And I say that without knowing exactly what will happen in terms of insurance, lawsuits and the consequences of poor choices. This was a tragedy for all parties involved.

Neighbor December 2, 2016 (9:16 am)

If you are saying that youthfulness corresponds with lowered responsible behavior then it also equates to not having a driver’s license while being youthful.

Until we change public behavior about the enormous responsibility assumed when operating a vehicle we stand to have much more loss of human life or loss of life as the injured person expected to live either temporary or permanent. Do we allow for youthful mistakes or change the expectations for youths that in this area, there is no excuse?
- Jort Sandwich December 2, 2016 (10:12 am)
  
  Very true, Neighbor.
  
  I think it is difficult to hope for changes in behavior. Instead, it is better to “design out” the ability to be unsafe. This can be accomplished with maximum speed governor technology, automated speed enforcement technology (either in-car or on the street), street design that limits the accumulation of too much speed, or, even better: removing drivers and cars from the streets entirely in favor of alternative transportation methods.
  
  Your solution, to prevent youthful drivers from being able to drive entirely, would be a concrete step on the way to ensuring safer streets.
  
  680 Americans die in car-related incidents every week. If, every week, we had four 737 aircraft falling out of the sky and killing everybody on board (equivalent to 680 deaths per week), we as a nation would be outraged. Why aren’t we outraged about traffic violence?
Peter morse December 4, 2016 (11:08 am)

If you were a witness to the actual accident that injured Britt Russell please contact me. I have the contact info for an investigator in this case.

-Peter (Owner of Mission Cantina)

206-852-8097

WSGuy December 2, 2016 (5:55 am)

I’ve lived in West Seattle since 94 and people constantly speed around here. One thing I do notice is that people like to wear black and at night it’s hard to see them maybe they could start using reflective vest.

WSince86 December 2, 2016 (9:33 am)

Well said, CJ.

Wes C. Addle December 2, 2016 (10:31 am)

BTW pretty nice of Cary/Pizzeria 22 for their generous donation as well. Speedy Recovery for Britt!

WS Neighbor December 6, 2016 (9:46 am)

Here are some tips I’ve gathered over the years in regards to crossing the street in non-daylight conditions.

-Never assume the driver sees you. Don’t cross on front of a car unless you make eye contact.

-Hold your cell phone, screen lit, facing traffic. It’s a light that may help them see you.

-If you walk a lot, consider reflective arm bands or flashing lights.

Remember, you can be in a marked cross walk, wearing flashing lights and carrying a neon flag, it doesn’t mean the driver is paying attention. Just because your in the right doesn’t mean you won’t get hit. And you will always end up more hurt than the driver.

Pay attention to your surroundings. How many people do you see step off the curb looking at their phone and never look up.

Please know I have no idea how the situation above transpired, and in no way am I assigning blame to either party. I just want to help keep people safe, and these are some of the things I do.

Stay safe/drive safe.

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