Driver hits pedestrian in Admiral, no serious injuries

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

We mentioned the 8:45 am emergency response at California/Hanford in this morning’s traffic coverage – the location drew concern because of its proximity to West Seattle High School. While the scene was cleared by both SFD and SPD relatively quickly, turns out that WSB’s Christopher Boffoli had checked it out and tells us that police confirmed a pedestrian was hit by a driver but was not seriously hurt and did not require treatment. (Added) SFD’s public-information office says the victim was a teenage girl and was given a ride home by police.

Schmitz Park Dad March 10, 2017 (9:47 am)

I was at that intersection and witnessed the young lady getting hit by the car. The car was turning from Hanford onto California going north, just south of WS High School, and the driver was obviously not paying attention. She hit the girl going about 5 miles an hour. I called 911 and the police and ambulance arrived within about 3 minutes of my call…..very impressive. The driver stopped and helped the girl up. The girl looks to have damaged her pants from the fall and limped away. My concern is this girl is probably at school not realizing she may have more serious injuries than she realizes, such as a fractured hip or femur. PAY ATTENTION DISTRACTED DRIVERS…..ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOL ZONES.

WSB March 10, 2017 (10:00 am)

We just confirmed a few more things: the victim was a teenager and was given a ride home by police.

Schmitz Park Dad March 10, 2017 (10:06 am)

Thanks. Good to know. She was walking away toward school when I left. The police must have stopped her before she got to school, which is great news. Very impressive response time from the police and paramedics.

sw March 10, 2017 (10:09 am)

Many drivers at this time of day are distracted by their phones. I see it every morning. Put the phones down, people. If answering that text or email is that important, please pull over and park then take care of business.

Jeff March 10, 2017 (10:27 am)

I don’t know the specific circumstances of this incident, but that is always a potentially dangerous intersection, especially with students walking to/from school. All the nearby construction and issues with parking make it hard to see oncoming traffic and doesn’t make it any easier. Let’s be careful out there!

North of Admiral March 10, 2017 (10:41 am)

People cannot drive around here. I always have my dashcam on to capture any incidents that may impact me or another person that I’m witness to.

Be careful out there people…and please put down the phone when driving.

Dave March 10, 2017 (10:52 am)

Yes this is a bad intersection and there are a lot of distracted drivers out there. Not the first time a student has been hit in the crosswalk here..

Dave March 10, 2017 (10:54 am)

Oops the one I recall where students have been hit twice was Lander.

nw March 10, 2017 (11:32 am)

I AM STARTING TO USE AT TIME A BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT WHILE CROSSING STREETS ESPECIALLY THESE TIMES IN THE MORNING AND EVENING MY INSTINCT TELLS ME DRIVERS ARE ALOT MORE ALERTED TO ME WITH THE LIGHT IN HAND VISIBLE.

WSB March 10, 2017 (11:59 am)

For the record, this happened at 8:40 this morning, so it was light.

Just Wondering March 10, 2017 (11:32 am)

Also pedestrians be aware of your surroundings. I never cross in front of cars with out making eye contact with the driver, even if I’m in a cross walk.

newnative March 10, 2017 (3:01 pm)

This type of comment drives me crazy. How many times have I made eye contact with a driver who waves at me and cuts me off-ON PURPOSE? All the time in this town. Besides, if she was in the crosswalk going towards school, then the car came up from behind her. This is on the driver. Again, I have been threatened by cars driving right up to the crosswalk and rolling towards me, impatiently waiting for me to waddle across the street, instead of yielding the pedestrian right of way.

Matt March 10, 2017 (11:54 am)

When will we demand enforcement for drivers on their cell phone? It seems like it would be really easy. Other police depts have even gotten creative posing as homeless people. I’d love to see a monthly sting particularly for drivers on their phone.

chachie March 10, 2017 (12:13 pm)

Exactly as Just Wondering stated…make eye contact with the driver of the car before stepping out onto the road.

And REALLY what are the police to do about the drivers using their cell phones while driving???? if they see a driver using one while driving then YES pull them over and give them a ticket not a warning but to do a sting GAWD really what a waste of money.

It is up to YOU the driver of a vehicle to NOT USE YOUR CELL while behind the wheel , it is just common sense…

anon March 10, 2017 (1:07 pm)

Was this person using their cell phone? Sometimes we just don’t see things. It sucks, but it happens.

dsa March 10, 2017 (1:50 pm)

Maybe both were on their cell phone. Paying attention in dangerous locations and operating machinery is what matters.

zark00 March 10, 2017 (3:10 pm)

This person was either on their phone, otherwise distracted, or is such an inept driver they should have their license pulled.

Visibility at this crosswalk is just fine, I don’t know what crosswalk you’re looking at but line of site is uninhibited for nearly the full block, in both directions; there is no possible way this driver couldn’t see a pedestrian because of construction.

This person was clearly looking at their phone, and checking for that little gap to shoot out onto California. They hit a kid in their zeal to “win the morning commute” .

THEY HIT A KID. and you’re blaming the kid – she shouldn’t have to “make eye contact” to cross a street safely – talk about victim blaming.

Make eye contact – unbelievable – what a completely ridiculous and insulting notion.

Seattle police do not enforce driving while talking/texting/surfing – ask one. I ask them all the time because I see about 3 in 10 cars driving downtown streets while staring at a cell phone. Uber should be shut down for that reason alone – they are terrible. Every time, without fail, when I’ve asked a cop they have laughed. EVERY TIME. They think it’s all a big joke.

Seattle police refused to comply with the law themselves. They demanded, and were given, the right to use their own personal cell phones, at any time of day or night, to text, surf, or chat, while driving on any street, highway or freeway in the city. They’re as bad, maybe worse, than Uber.

Beyond that, our idiot law makers crafted a law that allows the idiot drivers of Seattle to legally hold their phone away from their face and it counts as “hand free” – so stupid it’s almost beyond comprehension. But Olympia has proven on many occasions that they do not understand how a cell phone works.

Quit blaming this poor girl for getting hit by a car.

Quit acting like elitist scum who trade their vapid text convo for the safety of children.

Put your damn phone down and stop running over the children of Seattle.

I really think this person should go to jail for attempted vehicular homicide by way of gross negligence – that’s not a thing, but it probably should be.

Seattle has some of the worst drivers in the country.

http://q13fox.com/2016/02/10/new-study-says-seattle-drivers-rank-among-worst-in-the-country/

Next time you pull out your phone while your driving around the city remember that you’re really just taking the first step toward murdering someone.

unknown March 10, 2017 (4:36 pm)

OMG Zark00 take a breath. I don’t think anyone was saying that the child was in the wrong here because she wasn’t, I think that “they”were just trying to say that if you make eye contact with the driver then more than likely the driver see’s you trying to cross the street and then also if the pedestrian see’s that driver doesn’t make eye contact with them then it is not safe to cross.

Zark00 March 10, 2017 (5:49 pm)

OMG unknown anonymous poster, get a clue. Driver hit a kid, is drivers fault, end of story. No need to explain to people how it’s their responsibility as a pedestrian to control the cars on the road – with their eyes. Making eye contact is a useless and stupid suggestion for traffic safety. It’s the law. Please stop texting and driving and defending people who text and drive.

Vanessa March 10, 2017 (4:44 pm)

I couldn’t avoid having to drive down CA Ave. just after the high school lets out. It’s a terrible time of day, with the kids driving like they’re at the Indy 500.

Witnessed a young girl just darting across the intersection, against the light, without a care in the world. SHE ran into the front end of a car as the driver was waiting to make a legal right hand turn. Kids need to grow up and act right. yeah, right.

Space Dust March 10, 2017 (6:52 pm)

Hay Zark, Do you know how many pedestrian’s walk into the side of a Metro Bus because the pedestrian was looking at their phone.. It’s more than one a month.

Not all distracted drivers are on phones, Some are just zoned out.

Where did it say the driver was using a phone..and again repeat sentence …we’re not saying the girl was at fault.

If the driver and pedestrian both make eye contact none of this would have happened.

Mark March 11, 2017 (10:16 pm)

Old school make eye contact, as a ped you may have the right of way but you lose when hit by a car. Sure the idiot car driver who is distracted by their phone is at fault, but your the one spralled out on the pavement. Thus as peds we also need to be aware.

Good to hear no one got hurt this time

Sorry, comment time is over.