TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on Fauntleroy Way by Lincoln Park

10:21 AM: If you’re headed to or from the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, or Lincoln Park, note that a multiple-car crash is reported in the 7500 block of Fauntleroy Way. No serious injuries reported so far but police say “two of the vehicles can’t move” and SFD has been dispatched.

10:35 AM: The collision is on the north side, as shown in our photo; traffic is being directed around via south-side lanes, including what would be the ferry waiting lane if this were a busier outbound time of day. SFD has already left after determining that no one needed to be treated.

Rulefollower July 24, 2017 (11:26 am)

Off topic I know but does the ferry system have a way to see who is cutting in line? I never used to see it in 20+ years but now it’s more common. One day I saw 3 cars cut, around 5 pm.

If someone reports a cutter when they get to the booth, I imagine it’s their word against anothers so I don’t know if the ferry employees can do anything. Cutting in line was made illegal in the last year or two.

Fauntleroy is a city street whereas the ferry is state run so this may complicate things. If I was in line back by the gas station and people cut, up by the south park parking lot, would be pissed. Thanks.

WSB July 24, 2017 (11:38 am)

https://westseattleblog.com/2010/03/reporting-line-cutters-other-washington-state-ferries-changes

Seems to still be in effect. Kitsap Sun followed up on it a couple years later:

http://pugetsoundblogs.com/roadwarrior/2013/08/21/on-the-front-lines-and-behind-them-on-ferry-line-cutting-enforcement/
Casey July 24, 2017 (1:26 pm)

A friend of mine recently moved to Vashon, she said if there is a cutter who won’t leave the line when you get to the front the cop makes them go all the way to the back.

skeeter July 24, 2017 (12:35 pm)

THANK YOU for calling these incidents “crashes” or “collisions” instead of “accidents.” Accident implies factors beyond our control that can’t really be prevented – which is rarely the case in these collisions. Great reporting.

WSB July 24, 2017 (12:40 pm)

That’s been my practice even going back into corporate TV news management (which we left 10 years ago to do this full time), as keeper of the style guide. Not calling a crash/collision an “accident” does not mean you’re saying it was deliberate … just means, what you said. Couple years back the city even changed its classification on the realtime 911 log from “motor vehicle accident” (MVA) to “motor vehicle incident” (MVI) – you can see this one labeled as such, 10:16 am:

http://www2.seattle.gov/fire/realtime911/getRecsForDatePub.asp?action=Today&incDate=&rad1=des

skeeter July 24, 2017 (12:49 pm)

Thanks! Keep it up!

Rulefollower July 24, 2017 (1:12 pm)

So basically unless a trooper sees it, nothing will happen to the cutter except they may get a letter. If the trooper sees it, they still might not ticket the driver. I see people do illegal things in front of SPD often and the officer just keeps driving. Why do we even have laws?

AJP July 24, 2017 (1:31 pm)

Poor Westy. Hope it’s OK.

Seattlite July 24, 2017 (4:49 pm)

I drive on Fauntleroy several times a week. It never fails that cars going north will suddenly pull a U-turn and try to cut into the ferry car lineup. I’m surprised more accidents or arguments don’t happen during the ferry rush. Also, whenever I’m being tailgated (I do the speed limit-30mph) on Fauntleroy, I know it’s someone rushing for the ferry.

Sam-c July 24, 2017 (6:54 pm)

I have one request for the ferry line folks who police the line-cutters. Please use your indoor voice when using obscenities. Our family spent a nice sunny Saturday afternoon in the park, but when walking back to our car, we got quite an earful from a woman on the sidewalk SCREAMING obscenitities at an apparent line cutter while a gentleman inched their SUV along side her. Sure, call out a line cutter but be SOMEWHAT civil about it, and not teach my kids some new interesting words. K,thx.

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