About the wrong-way truck on SW Morgan

After questions about that white truck facing uphill in the downhill lanes of SW Morgan near 40th SW, we went over to check. Police say the driver lost control of the truck’s forward gears several blocks east – the first report was from 31st/Sylvan – and tried traveling in reverse gear for a while, but that didn’t work out too well, as some trees and other vehicles were hit along the way, including the purple-and-gold van in the photo. No injuries reported; police were directing traffic until the truck could be moved.

notable August 13, 2018 (4:59 pm)

Interesting that Seattle Parking Enforcement never bothers to show up – no matter how many times wrong way parking is reported. As a result of the several times a week this has been happening in front of my building with no response, I assumed it was now legal.

WSB August 13, 2018 (5:07 pm)

There was no parking involved here. The truck driver tried to get out of a predicament by going backward. The only parked vehicle in the photo is the van, which was parked pointed in the direction of traffic (downhill, aka west).
Alki resident August 13, 2018 (5:07 pm)

What did that have to do with this story?
KM August 13, 2018 (5:19 pm)

Are you reporting on the Find It Fix It app? It generally takes parking enforcement a week to show up unless you are in an area with limited/restricted parking.
CC August 14, 2018 (9:17 am)

Wrong-way parking is only enforced on busy streets, like arterials. Its done at the discretion of the officer and will usually only happen if it creates a hazard.So the question is, where would you like SPD to spend their enforcement money? Seeking out cars parked the wrong way on a street is pretty low on my list.

T August 13, 2018 (5:39 pm)

PEOs have told me they will only ticket wrong side parkers on arterials. Probably have to call it in. Residential streets aren’t enforced.

T August 13, 2018 (5:43 pm)

PS. I don’t agree with PEOs philosophy. Also, I see people driving on the wrong side of the street (not just parking) often as well as no headlights at night.

Ice August 13, 2018 (7:10 pm)

I love that the wacky purple van made an appearance in this story. I see that van all of the time. I wonder what the story behind it is.

Swede. August 13, 2018 (8:16 pm)

I see at often too and it’s pretty cool I think. Definitely not a home built deal so it’s probably pretty rare. The owner must be in the house on the corner there since there is a bunch of other ‘weird’/crappy cars there too.

Darwin Awardee August 13, 2018 (8:01 pm)

Nine Blocks on an arterial backwards. Where is the logic in that? I would like to know how far the driver intended to go. Should get a ticket for Reckless Driving but probably won’t get anything. Saw a car further up the hill with a bad dent high up near the window and could not figure how it could happen. Now I know

Brian Hughes August 14, 2018 (3:30 am)

I see that white truck parked at Brandon and Fauntleroy all the time. Forward gears busted…why not reverse? Sort of logical-ish. I’m sure there is a country/western song in there somewhere.

Cid August 14, 2018 (8:09 am)

Wow…those comments went all over the map. Darwin is the only one that actually commented about the original post. How this driver thought that backing down Morgan instead of , oh I don’t know, pulling over was the best decision is remarkable.

Bill Ray August 14, 2018 (8:43 am)

I saw that guy at Sylvan/Delridge where he broke down and began to reverse. I thought he was backing into the Vietnamese Cultural Center (or The Tug!) But this story leads me to believe he made it that far?

sam-c August 14, 2018 (1:30 pm)

That is really crazy that he was in reverse for such a long distance before stopping. Yikes

Lola August 14, 2018 (9:04 am)

Darwin,My thoughts exactly. Did this guy get a ticket? I cannot believe that people think that would be normal to drive backwards for 9 blocks. You pull over and call for a tow or AAA or something other than trying to drive a broken truck. Come on people use your smarts or have we lost our minds on how to drive?

RAY MCBAIN August 14, 2018 (2:45 pm)

Lola said it all! Weird driver.

Brayton August 14, 2018 (9:31 pm)

I’ve heard that truck many times arriving and leaving the Rite-Aid on California. I’ve wished every time that the thing would die because the driver was nutty and the truck so loud. Good to see that it will be quiet for a time.

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