UPDATE: Man hit, seriously hurt in southeast West Seattle

10:07 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police say a man was on foot when hit by a driver at Highland Park Way and 2nd SW tonight just before 8:30. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center by medics from Seattle Fire, which tells us he is 31 years old and was in critical condition when transported. SPD officers at the scene wouldn’t comment on details such as the driver’s status, so we may not find that out until Monday.

10:27 PM: A reader who was at the scene even before emergency responders says it was a hit-run and witnesses described the car as a white Prius last seen westbound going up the hill into Highland Park.

Mike September 29, 2019 (4:50 am)

Horrible, hopefully the pedestrian will be okay and the driver caught.

Karl Tull September 29, 2019 (10:23 am)

Has anyone completed an anthropological study to better understand the rampant “hit and run” incidents that plague Seattle?? I moved here several years ago, having lived primarily in the east coast. I am shocked and appalled by the frequency with which hit-n-runs occur here, including those that involve serious injuries and fatalities. What’s up with this Seattlites? This doesn’t happen this frequently elsewhere!

John September 29, 2019 (10:36 am)

It did not used to be as common until the last several years. It actually used to be quite rare for anyone to even get hit by a car at all.
West Seattle Guy September 29, 2019 (10:50 am)

Best guess is more people are on drugs here and panic / flee. That said the drug epidemic is everywhere now it seems. Don’t know if they’re starting to spike everywhere it’s densely populated, or if Seattle has more drug issues per capita. (assuming it’s actually a causal factor).
KB September 29, 2019 (4:49 pm)

Hit and runs are up nationwide, it isn’t unique to Washington. It’s something that’s become a problem everywhere in recent years. This article by AAA goes into some of the factors:https://aaafoundation.org/hit-and-run-crashes-prevalence-contributing-factors-and-countermeasures/

MJ September 29, 2019 (11:20 am)

It sucks that people fail to take responsibility for their actions. I suspect that the driver was either impaired or did not have insurance as required by law. Hopefully the perp is caught, the injured party recovers and the perp is made to pay all medical costs.

Ice September 30, 2019 (6:52 pm)

In my younger years while traveling in Mexico, I was almost hit by a driver at a speed that probably wouldn’t have killed me. My local friend said I was lucky that I didn’t get hit, because if I had gotten hit, the driver would have backed over me to make sure I was dead. “Why would he do that?” I asked. His response was that a funeral was a lot cheaper than a lifetime of medical bills.Justice should not create twisted incentives.

anonyme September 29, 2019 (11:39 am)

I was nearly hit by a blond in a white Prius soon after the fatality at Westwood Village, and at the same spot. Coincidence? Either way, this lunatic needs to be taken off the road.Karl, I agree with you. There seems to be a hit and run epidemic. It may be related to the well-known Seattle trait of passive aggression, taking the form of a lack of accountability. One need only observe our local government in order to see the latter at work. Or it may be the number of entitled drivers here who feel it is their right to drive impaired. Either way, it takes a special kind of scumbag to run someone down in the street and leave them there, possibly to die.

trickycoolj September 29, 2019 (2:23 pm)

It’s sketchy driving down here the last 6 months or so. I’ve encountered pedestrians wandering around the section of 99 that becomes a freeway after the traffic light at the 1st ave bridge entrance/509 exit. Wandering out and darting out of the center median ditch under the bridge where there’s no expected pedestrian crossing (and no expected pedestrians). I realize pedestrians have the right of way, but a driver does not have reasonable expectation to encounter pedestrians in some of these places either.That said, none of this excuses not watching for pedestrians in a crosswalk at a traffic light, as in this situation, but I will say to all the drivers that frequent this area be vigilant for pedestrians coming out of unexpected places, it happens at all hours, especially during the 7am commute walking down the middle of the lanes where vehicles are attempting to turn left on the 1st ave bridge from nb 99.

Real life September 29, 2019 (7:47 pm)

My brother was killed by decapitation in 2000 by a hit and run driver. It’s not new. It’s been happening for decades.
Highland Park Resident September 30, 2019 (6:30 pm)

What has changed is an increase in people living along 1st/2nd Ave, and within the greenbelts. I agree with Trickycooljay’s observation of an increase in dangerous behavior in the area. I too have unexpectedly come across people walking or riding in the dark road edge, at on/off ramps, and in the center of HP Way just last week. Do we know anything about the victim? How he is doing? Also curious if the witnesses observed whether or not the victim was in the crosswalk and if he was obeying the traffic signals? Is he an employee of one of the neighboring businesses? Not at all trying to take away from the wrongness of the hit and run. Just seeking more information. I am truly sorry for your loss Real Life and hope the victim of this crime is on the road to recovery.
- WSB September 30, 2019 (8:59 pm)
  
  I don’t have any more official info. Checked back on our Sat night texts and the person who said they talked to witnesses said the victim was crossing the street slowly when the driver, who had been waiting at the light, resumed moving & hit the victim.

Sorry, comment time is over.