UPDATE: Dump truck crashes into West Seattle Bridge jersey barrier

(SDOT camera image)

8:40 AM: We started coverage of this in the morning traffic roundup but it’ll be a mess for a while so we’re breaking it out: That dump-truck wreck on the West Seattle Bridge has the westbound side closed at Delridge and is blocking lanes on the eastbound side too.

8:43 AM: The westbound bridge closure is now expanding even further, according to scanner traffic.

(Reader photo)

8:55 AM: Thanks for all the photos (and the original tips, too, when this all started half an hour ago).

(Reader photo)

Radio communication indicates SPD is now closing the bridge BOTH WAYS.

9:04 AM: SDOT confirms “West Seattle Bridge is fully closed in both directions between Fauntleroy Way SW and I-5.”

9:17 AM: Per radio communication, the bridge will reopen both ways “up to the scene of the collision.” … But that may be on hold for a bit while they empty the truck’s fuel tanks.

9:36 AM: Here’s the current view looking EB – westbound lanes open but jammed, eastbound still empty.

(SDOT camera image)

Our page with the latest traffic-cam views around the area is here.

9:40 AM: Just heard back from SFD. No injuries reported in this crash.

9:52 AM: Cameras show some eastbound traffic now on the bridge, and cleanup work continuing at scene of crash (which happened about an hour and a half ago).

(SDOT camera image)

Per radio communication, one complicating factor right now is diesel fuel in the eastbound lanes at the scene.

(Reader photo)

10:33 AM: Two lanes are now open eastbound per radio communication; WB is still being detoured off at Delridge.

10:48 AM: To see exactly what’s happening now, east-facing view here, west-facing view here.

NOON: Camera shows westbound now open past Delridge. (SDOT confirms, but not ALL lanes yet.)

12:36 PM: From Metro – “routes 50, 120, 125 and RapidRide C Line have resumed regular service along the West Seattle Bridge.”

1 PM: And now – “a collision on the SW Admiral Way Off Ramp from West Seattle Bridge WB” as tweeted by SDOT.

1:23 PM: Now that’s been upgraded to a “rescue extrication” response so we’re breaking it out (story here).

2:10 PM: The repair crew has finally cleared the dump-truck crash scene but the inside lane remains coned off there – we noted this just before SDOT turned the camera the other way.

4:17 PM: We had asked SPD if anyone was cited. So far, no. That and some other new details just emerged in this SPD Blotter post; contrary to what SFD told us, SPD said the driver did suffer minor injuries, and also says debris from the crash damaged two other vehicles.

97 Replies to "UPDATE: Dump truck crashes into West Seattle Bridge jersey barrier"

  • Chris Wells October 8, 2019 (8:48 am)

    FYI – 125 and 120 are rerouting to the lower bridge, then down 4th to downtown. 

  • Olivia October 8, 2019 (8:59 am)

    The 55 is heading for the low span, too

  • Emily Katcher October 8, 2019 (9:04 am)

    Nearly standstill traffic on Genesee. Seems to be a lot of confusion about the detour route.

    • WSB October 8, 2019 (9:07 am)

      The bridge is now fully closed both ways so the only detour is to the low bridge or a south pathway out like through Highland Park to 1st Ave. S. Bridge.

    • Rodney Kei October 8, 2019 (9:25 am)

      SW Genesee St. 

  • Pat October 8, 2019 (9:05 am)

    And, yet again I’m struggling to get to my kid’s hospital appointment on time. 

    • Kat October 8, 2019 (9:17 am)

      I notice no one has asked how the driver is? If they’ve closed the road , it’s never good.

      • Bob October 8, 2019 (9:36 am)

        Did you look at the photo’s? They closed the road so they can actually clean up and remove the truck. 

        • WSB October 8, 2019 (9:45 am)

          As now noted above, no injuries.

      • Connor October 8, 2019 (10:23 am)

        Nobody was hurt. 

    • AlkiGal October 8, 2019 (9:23 am)

      Sorry to hear.  Hope you make it on time.  I was in the mess right after it happened and it took forever to get through.  I can’t imagine how bad it is now.

  • Slc October 8, 2019 (9:06 am)

    Thank goodness for the jersey barrier. Remember when it was just a painted line?  Could have been so much worse. 

  • Cycleman October 8, 2019 (9:13 am)

    Doesn’t look like any other cars were involved so that’s good! And maybe no injuries? 

  • Nick October 8, 2019 (9:14 am)

    Somehow this made my commute on the 120 faster than usual.   Re-routed to the lower bridge, then back up to take the (empty) cloverleaf to 99.   Saved 10 minutes.

    • Delridge October 8, 2019 (10:00 am)

      My 120 ride was slower, I spent 90 minutes waiting from Oregon to the 99.Late to school :(

  • ACG October 8, 2019 (9:16 am)

    Nightmare!  Avoid heading that way. Dead standstill at Oregon and Fauntleroy, and I’m sure extending much farther back into West Seattle. 

  • Steph October 8, 2019 (9:19 am)

    Is the driver ok?  Anyone injured?

    • WSB October 8, 2019 (9:27 am)

      I have that inquiry out to SFD. They’ve had a busy morning between this and the deadly Airport Way crash. Will be adding to the story above when we hear back.

      • Vanessa October 8, 2019 (9:33 am)

        Sadly there was one fatality and someone else was injured as well according to the fire department Twitter. https://mobile.twitter.com/SeattleFire/status/1181582103906897920

        • WSB October 8, 2019 (9:47 am)

          That was the Airport Way crash, ***NOT THIS ONE***. (We noted that one when we launched morning-traffic coverage at 7:15, more than an hour before this one happened.)

      • Just wondering October 8, 2019 (10:41 am)

        And yesterday the fire in Ballard!

  • Angelina C. October 8, 2019 (9:33 am)

    I was driving behind this dumptruck right before this happened. The driver merged into the right lane allowing me to pass, 30 Seconds later I watched in my rearview as the truck went parallel across the bridge and straight into the barrier and upwards!! It was so scary to watch.. I hope the driver of the truck, and the cars that were in standstill traffic on the opposite side are okay!!

    • Lisa October 8, 2019 (9:52 pm)

      Further down the comments, someone who helped the driver from the dump truck said that the driver had to swerve to avoid hitting someone who slowed down in front of him after they passed him. Could you have unknowingly caused this crash? Or did you see the car in front of him that did? You are an important witness and should contact SPD.

      • J October 9, 2019 (5:22 pm)

        I was wondering this as well

  • Jefe October 8, 2019 (9:35 am)

     the tow trucks were showing up at 9:20 and most likely it will be closed or at least another hour if not two

  • Rick October 8, 2019 (9:36 am)

    Aaahhh, dump truck damage! Is that the front axle and wheels on the other side of the barrier?

    • Isaac October 8, 2019 (11:04 am)

      I crept by it on the C Line and the damage is intense. The whole front axle and tires are completely torn off. I can’t imagine the amount of force it would take to do that.

  • marie October 8, 2019 (9:38 am)

    Is the bridge still closed?

    • WSB October 8, 2019 (9:44 am)

      We are continuing to update above. Currently (9:40 am) the WB bridge is open until Delridge. Now it sounds like they’re trying to partly reope the EB bridge but the description was a little muddied so we’ll wait for official word and camera views.

  • Aaron October 8, 2019 (9:40 am)

    About an hour to get from alki to beacon hill. FYI after the lower bridge, the road splits and the left goes back up to the upper bridge which is open at that point and smooth sailing. 

    • Tracey October 8, 2019 (9:54 am)

      When you move to West Seattle they should offer a course on navigating the lower bridge.  Every time I do so, I don’t get lost but don’t get where I planned to go.  End up back on the upper bridge, West Marginal Way, etc.  I’ve lived here a long long time and still can’t figure it out.  I’m assuming it is bad signage and not my navigational skills (I hope).

      • Kathy October 8, 2019 (10:07 am)

        Ditto! You are definitely not the only one!

      • shawn October 8, 2019 (10:10 am)

        The first time I saw that set of intersections down under the bridge I thought “This looks like the work of an insane person”.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  I’m fairly used to it by now, but just… wow.  It is so weird down there the first time you encounter it.

        • Eddie October 8, 2019 (10:49 am)

          Think it’s confusing in a car? Try it on a bike or walking sometime. My least favorite intersection. 

        • Lynda October 8, 2019 (1:42 pm)

          “an insane person” – HAHA. I felt the SAME way!

      • Meggie October 8, 2019 (10:17 am)

        Glad it’s not just me! I have the same experience as you. 

      • LiouxLioux October 8, 2019 (11:17 am)

        No! Getting lost is part of earning your West Seattle credentials. You can’t just tell the newbies about the secret shortcuts and hacks. My commute in is a 5th grade story problem of deciding between low-then-high or low-stay low or high all the way. Coming home if I go low and the bridge is up do I do the car loop-de-loop to jump the line or sit put. Or U-turn to get back to 1st and go high.  Oh, crap, just spilled some of my secrets.

        • KM October 8, 2019 (11:34 am)

          Hah. Its also changed since we moved here more than a decade ago! So we learned they old roads nearly lost our shocks with some of those shortcuts east of the low bridge, only to have to relearn the random turns and exits again. Navigation is no help, the turns are too close together. It’s truly a mess. 

          • Trickycoolj October 8, 2019 (12:25 pm)

            Even more fun is when you are trying to give your SO a ride from a business on Harbor Island. Might as well just give them the wheel because add getting in and out of businesses down there with all the trucks, bikes and loop-de-loops and confusing signage… is it West Seattle or a Terminal or East Marginal no I wanted to go south which one is south! 

    • mrsB October 8, 2019 (10:04 am)

      It has just taken us 1 hour 20 minutes to do the same trip!

  • Vspo October 8, 2019 (9:42 am)

    Don’t go down Spokane St from 35th. We are all stuck. Cannot even turn around. 

  • Kelly October 8, 2019 (9:45 am)

    Do they know when bridge will reopen eastbound ?

  • D October 8, 2019 (9:49 am)

    SPD at 35th and Avalon saying it’s 60-90 min back up to the lower bridge. 

  • Mary October 8, 2019 (10:03 am)

    On a northbound bus at Avalon and Andover we are not moving. It has taken an hour to get to this point. Avoid this area if you can. 

  • shawn October 8, 2019 (10:05 am)

    Oh man. I dodged a bullet here. Usually ride the C, but today I left very early (for me) this morning to drive to the Burien transit center so my EV could charge at the P&R while I’m at work (I have no way to charge at home as it is a condo). Caught a 122 heading downtown.  I was expecting a huge backup at the bridge, but I was shocked to see absolutely no traffic at all. Sailed into downtown without slowing down, but I was very confused. Thankfully WSB is on the case and I saw this article.  I feel for all you folks just trying to get through their commutes.  Good Luck, and try to stay calm!

  • GH October 8, 2019 (10:15 am)

    You noted it above, but I was with the driver right after the accident and he was shaken up with a little leg pain but otherwise ok. We pulled him out of the truck ASAP as there was gas gushing out and we were afraid it would ignite. He said that a car turned in front of him and slowed down so much that he had to turn to avoid hitting it. If any of you saw this happen, please contact the police as there were no witnesses to that piece remaining at the scene (that I know of). 

    • GH October 8, 2019 (10:20 am)

      And that jersey barrier probably saved some lives this morning… I watched the truck plow into it and the force was amazing. We were picking up heavy chunks of concrete and metal across 4 lanes. One chunk of metal was so heavy I could barely drag it. 

    • WSB October 8, 2019 (10:37 am)

      Thank you for the update.

    • West Seattle Hipster October 8, 2019 (11:43 am)

      Thank you for helping the driver after the accident!

  • David October 8, 2019 (10:15 am)

    Looks like the lower bridge is opening to marine traffic now according to blinking sign near admiral on ramp.

  • Brian October 8, 2019 (10:19 am)

    People, please remember that the bus lane on Delridge is open to cars after 9 am. I understand that there was going to be a backup either way, but it would have made traffic so much better on Delridge if the drivers took advantage of the wide open lane. It was a odd seeing all those cars lined up at 10 am in a single lane when the bus lane was clearly open to traffic. I’m using all my restraint and being nice about it here, but the road rage was real this morning. People were driving into oncoming traffic and getting all types of angry. It wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure. 

  • Courtney October 8, 2019 (10:23 am)

    Wreck on 509 now, too. 

    • ~hockeywitch~ October 8, 2019 (3:09 pm)

      I was stuck in that one… No one would move so the fire trucks to get through…

  • Mariem October 8, 2019 (10:23 am)

    Why is it so hard to learn the status of the bridge.? Nothing recently posted on sdot twitter. If there are better resources someone please share.

    • WSB October 8, 2019 (10:35 am)

      If you don’t want to trust us, check the cameras. We have a cameras page, or you can use the SDOT map:
      https://web6.seattle.gov/Travelers/

      Currently as described above, WB is open to Delridge, EB partly open (two lanes now).

      • WSB October 8, 2019 (10:56 am)

        Also I’ve added direct EB/WB camera links above.

    • GH October 8, 2019 (11:10 am)

      Mariem – the “better resources” you’re looking for are literally the page you posted on. The WSB is crazy quick at updating status and keeping us informed. 

    • sw October 8, 2019 (11:16 am)

      KOMO newsradio was reporting on the bridge issue every 10 minutes on the 4’s.

  • Yma October 8, 2019 (10:27 am)

    Very glad nobody was hurt. My husband relates the Police were very nice ( as he was stuck on 35th with no good options) – told him trying to get to Avalon & lower bridge would take 45-60min & said, yes, he could turn left around the construction up to Fauntleroy. So he’s working from home now.

  • Kathy Heffernan October 8, 2019 (10:28 am)

    Can anyone share about the traffic conditions on the WS bridge currently?

  • Seattle Commuter October 8, 2019 (10:30 am)

    Water taxi is running on time! 

    • 935 October 8, 2019 (11:00 am)

      Thanks! But wont help those of us who have destinations other than downtown or have items we can’t carry aboard (table saws, air compressors – boxes of documents etc.)

  • TKM October 8, 2019 (10:32 am)

    10:30 On a C bus since 840, finally got on the bridge and moving now. Looks like two lanes are now open eastbound, all lanes open after site of crash. Wish I checked WSB before I left for my commute today.

  • MJ October 8, 2019 (10:32 am)

    Good no one was hurt, this shows how fragile WS access to Seattle is.  

  • Mark October 8, 2019 (10:38 am)

    Wheres our friend sam Zimbabwe 

    • Quora October 8, 2019 (11:19 am)

      Where is the General? The guy that makes 200k a year and nobody knows where he is, and his public scheduling just says “out and about”.

      • hj October 8, 2019 (11:58 am)

        What is the desired outcome here? Would the incident have cleared faster if he were personally on site, or perhaps he should personally apologize to everyone driving by because there was a random accident? And even if these things were true, wouldn’t there be better places for him to be like the fatal accident on Airport Way?

        • Quora October 8, 2019 (12:11 pm)

          All good questions, but let’s start smaller. I’m still trying to understand what General Worden does to the tune of 200k a year. Is that a value-based hire or more of our bloated budget at work? If value-based, what value is the General bringing?

          • Jort October 8, 2019 (1:25 pm)

            I think it’s very important to note that this man, with his $200k+ annual salary, allegedly demands that civilian city employees refer to him as “The General.” Maybe he doesn’t come into the office very much because everybody’s laughing at his stupid title? Sounds like the kind of thing a man-baby would demand.    

    • Tracey October 8, 2019 (11:28 am)

      Working from home perhaps?

    • KBear October 8, 2019 (12:05 pm)

      He’s probably mapping out some more “Zimbab-ways” (unnecessary/counterproductive bus lanes) to help keep traffic at a crawl.

  • WiseWoman October 8, 2019 (11:00 am)

    People keep flying up the alley between Genesee and Avalon with a belligerent man in a white car! Almost ran over 3x from people in a hurry. Too bad belligerent man got stuck before police blocked road! Bahaha. Hope he learned his lesson cursing me out!

  • hj October 8, 2019 (11:18 am)

    Entered the eastbound bridge at 11am, reached the accident site at 11:18.

  • Joey October 8, 2019 (11:31 am)

    Our traffic out here is so delicate. This really needs a better solution than just light rail and crappy bus lanes. One accident on the bridge chokes the entire area. I tried to get to work at 10:30 and ended up turning around because it looked like a good old fashioned European traffic jam but without the knowledgable drivers to get out of it. People were stuck looking at each other head-on on side streets, I witnessed a truck drive onto the sidewalk and through a few front yards, intersections are just a mass of stuck cars blocking each other… It’s chaos. To top it all off the hail started to get pretty bad again. They should have built the tunnel out to West Seattle instead of under the old viaduct. The lower bridge is NOT a valid alternate route when the upper bridge is bad.

    • Tsurly October 8, 2019 (12:14 pm)

      Sounds like life on a peninsula where you are surrounded by water on three sides.

    • Joe Z October 8, 2019 (2:07 pm)

      Light rail would have solved this for the 10,000+ bus riders who were stuck with the cars in traffic. 

  • Sam October 8, 2019 (11:35 am)

    Does anyone have a map to share on how to get from West Seattle to downtown Seattle when the bridge is out like today?Thanks very much!

    • Joey October 8, 2019 (11:48 am)

      If the bridge is actually closed or is as bad as it is right now there is no valid way to reach downtown from West Seattle. You essentially need to drive south and then come up I5 or 509/99. The lower bridge can’t handle the amount of traffic that needs to get out of this area of the city.

      • ITotallyAgreeWithYou October 8, 2019 (2:43 pm)

        A mess indeed, but you can alleviate some of your traffic woes by taking yourself off auto pilot, taking the same arterials and major roads even though you can see you are approaching a mess, and learn how our surface streets interconnect. A West Seattleite for 40 years, I hit the backup at 11:15a, took 20 minutes to get to my alternate, the lower bridge,  and then 15 minutes to lower Queen Anne using just a few of my tricks. I was surprised to see so few drivers rerouting to the lower bridge, instead just continuing into the mess. There is no place the upper bridge can take you that the lower one can’t. Not only is it a viable option,  it is critical for times like these. 

    • chasbo October 8, 2019 (12:28 pm)

      Water taxi, works both ways if traffic is crawling eastbound or westbound into West Seattle.

  • West Seattle Hipster October 8, 2019 (11:44 am)

    Any chance the cameras on the bridge have video of the accident?

  • metromiss October 8, 2019 (11:57 am)

    One can only imagine what traffic will be like with the increased truck traffic from the expanded Terminal 5. The number of trucks is slated to increase exponentially according to the EIS. There is not any mitigation planned for the increased traffic and accidents on WS bridge.  

  • Kerry October 8, 2019 (11:58 am)

    A coworker just got to work in Factoria. He said it took him 45 minutes to get from WS to I-5, then another 20 to get to Factoria. He suggested I throw in the towel and just continue to work from home.

  • run_dmc October 8, 2019 (12:05 pm)

    Can see the crest of the bridge from my house and if anything, the police lights/accident site seems worse now than an hour ago.  If anyone has the ability to not go over the bridge right now, that seems the better choice.  (Although, recognizing it’s not a choice everyone can make, but it still looks like a virtual standstill coming up to the accident site).

  • Erin October 8, 2019 (12:10 pm)

    Bridge is still backed up east bound :(

  • karen October 8, 2019 (12:31 pm)

    can someone tell me if bridge is open, or how the first ave bridge is?

    • WSB October 8, 2019 (12:41 pm)

      As updated above, the bridge is open both ways but not all lanes. 1st Ave S had an earlier crash.

  • Red October 8, 2019 (12:33 pm)

    Took me 3 hours to get to downtown from West Seattle! Worst I’ve ever seen and I’m so glad no one was hurt in the dump truck accident. My question is…how in the heck does someone crash on a straightaway like that? Luckily there was a barricade to stop him rather than oncoming traffic. 

    • KBear October 8, 2019 (12:43 pm)

      If you read further up in the comments, because some idiot driver cut him off.

    • sam-c October 8, 2019 (12:44 pm)

      If you read GH’s comment above, it sounds like someone cut the dump truck driver off, and the truck driver swerved to avoid hitting the car

    • je October 8, 2019 (12:55 pm)

      Someone posted earlier who helped the driver, and the driver told him what happened. (See GH’s post above.) It might not be the truck driver’s fault, so it’s best not to jump to conclusions.

  • Christa Fischer October 8, 2019 (12:48 pm)

    Hi all.So, it’s a short (distance wise) backup from start of bridge wherever you enter to the accident… The earlier post about it being about 15-20 additional minutes is accurate. I hit the bridge from Fauntleroy at 12:15ish and passed the accident site about 12:30ish. Rest of way typical Seattle traffic. Question!!!! I drove past the spill and when I was exiting off the highway near my destination my car fishtailed for the first time ever. Have had this car a long time. Does the diesel fuel get stuck on tires and cause traction issues??? 

    • bolo October 8, 2019 (1:27 pm)

      No. Any residual liquid diesel fuel would have come off the tires after a few hundred feet of travel.

  • kk26 October 8, 2019 (1:42 pm)

    So glad the driver is ok, and everyone else is safe.  This accident could of been so much worse.

  • ray October 8, 2019 (2:20 pm)

    Too bad the water taxi can’t carry cars.  Maybe we need to upgrade to full ferry service?  :-)

    • BDSM October 9, 2019 (11:01 pm)
      This is a wildly inefficient proposal.

Sorry, comment time is over.