UPDATE: Collision at Fauntleroy/Edmunds

(WSB photo – substituted for previous cameraphone pic)

6:46 PM: Avoid Fauntleroy/Edmunds for a while – police are detouring traffic on NB Fauntleroy because of that collision between a motorcycle rider and car driver. The rider is injured and being taken to Harborview. Apparently his injuries are not life-threatening, though, as police tell us the Traffic Collision Investigation detectives are not being called in. They’re awaiting a tow truck before the scene can be cleared.

7:35 PM: The scene is clear. We’re checking with SFD for condition information.

8:56 PM: SFD says the 28-year-old rider was in serious condition when transported, and that a 29-year-old woman also suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Wendell November 6, 2019 (7:04 pm)

Best wishes and speedy recovery to the rider. I commute through that intersection almost every day by motorcycle. It’s always been a little scary, but these days even more so. Eyes up.

Craig November 6, 2019 (7:19 pm)

Looks like that motorcycle (large dual sport touring ADV?) took quite the hit. Hope the rider is ok. Hope the car driver isn’t too traumatized too, must be terrible for both of them.

RS November 6, 2019 (9:33 pm)

So grateful to learn this wasn’t a fatal crash. I drove by after several people were at the site helping, but right before the First Responders arrived. It was bone-chilling. Be careful everybody, and SLOW DOWN a little in our wonderful berg.

Craig November 6, 2019 (9:46 pm)

New pic shows that it’s a BMW F800GS (probably) motorcycle. Great bikes, ABS and everything. I’ve ridden that intersection a lot myself too. Best to the rider.

Anu November 6, 2019 (9:55 pm)

I was on the bus going down Fauntleroy on the other side of the street when this happened. Hope the motorcycle driver recovers. It looked like he might have crossed over the yellow line. The motorcycle looked totaled. The driver suffered significant impact as he landed quite a distance from the accident site. Please be careful on side streets, neighbors.

CAM November 6, 2019 (10:32 pm)

This intersection is getting worse and worse. The biggest problem is on Edmunds. Cars have no visual of traffic on Fauntleroy because of how close parked cars are to the corners and they basically guess if they can turn on red or not. Either the intersection needs to become no turn on red or they need to make those spots closest to the corners illegal.

JWinWS November 7, 2019 (7:40 am)

Agreed, CAM. However, this crash was actually mid block between Alaska and Edmonds. It looked like perhaps the vehicle was exiting the driveway from The Whittaker/MOD pizza. I sure hope the rider makes a full recovery. Thinking of the driver as well. Traumatic for both of them.

Tracey November 7, 2019 (7:04 am)

I have always been under the impression that you can’t park closer than 30 feet from ANY corner. I noticed that others always did and that they have started installing no parking signs at many corners in West Seattle. I thought those signs were redundant giving that it was already the law. I guess I need to refresh my state of WA driving rules. Perhaps I am remembering the laws from somewhere else I’ve lived. Certainly would be safer if that were the law.

CAM November 7, 2019 (8:53 am)

I have always been taught the same everywhere else I’ve ever lived. Even other major cities don’t allow it. Edmunds seems to be something of an exception because it seems to encourage people to park practically in the intersection.
- Tracey November 7, 2019 (11:50 am)
  
  Thanks Cam. I knew I learned this somewhere. Clearly wasn’t here.
Matt P November 7, 2019 (2:31 pm)

Sign or not, many ignore the rule. I frequently find people parked right in front of the sign at the corner near my place.

Richard Maloney November 7, 2019 (7:23 am)

As a result of the addition of thousands of living spaces near the junction, we have decided to avoid the West Seattle business district altogether. This small change, done by enough locals, might make things a bit safer and less congested for those who live there. Besides, we like the businesses we frequent in White Center. Less expensive, better choices.

LAH November 7, 2019 (9:34 am)

The driver made a left out of the driveway between the two apartment buildings near the BECU; it had nothing to do with Edmunds. The left was made in the dark with a bus at the bus stop – they had absolutely no visibility of what might have been coming at them but did it anyway. So dumb when they could have just gone around the block but that would have taken an extra 3 minutes.

Wendell November 7, 2019 (10:33 am)

That happens a lot during the morning commute. A dangerous manoeuvre at any time of day.

The new southern exit from the parking lot that feeds to Edmunds – behind the new apartment block – has very poor visibility as well. I often stand on the pegs of my m/c so drivers can see me. Drivers then usually take a left to get on to Fauntleroy from that exit.

Then there’s the problem of the free right on to Fauntleroy from Edmunds – cars dart out while oncoming southbound traffic are jockeying for position, racing south to beat each other to the lane ending feeder – I’ve seen a lot of near misses there, too. I rarely take that free right, in my car or on my motorcycle.

Proceed with caution around that area folks.
- Kate November 7, 2019 (5:44 pm)
  
  I live in the Whittaker complex (shown in the picture). On the right side of the picture is the “fire lane”. That fire lane leads to 40th Ave. & parking for Whole Paycheck, MOD, BECU, & T-Mobile. If you are pulling out onto Fauntleroy from the fire lane towards TJ’s, it’s really hard to see past all the cars parked in front of MOD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
Lk November 7, 2019 (11:00 am)

Yes I completely agree. Also I would like to add that the driver of the car never even went to help to injured motorcyclist. My brother went and stayed with the young man, prayed for him and made sure he felt safe. A Dr came out from his clinic to check his vitals and help keep him safe as well. But I watched the car driver just stand there blaming the injured man, cold as ice. Saying it was all his fault. Who cares about fault when someone is hurting you show compassion love care and do all you can to help. People please choose to care for others first!!!!! The rest will figure itself out!!! CHOOSE TO SEE, CHOOSE TO CARE, CHOOSE COMPASSION!!!

SillyGoose November 7, 2019 (11:48 am)

The driver is at fault no left turn and it is a double solid yellow line. The drivers on Fauntleroy are insane, every day they hold of traffic for over 1/2 a mile to turn left across 2 solid yellow not turn lines, makes me nuts. We need lane barriers down Fauntleroy to stop this, as well as those drivers who hold up everyone when trying to turn from the far lanes into Trader Joes!! Median barriers PLEASE!!!

KM November 7, 2019 (12:15 pm)

Apparently you can take a left turn across double-yellow lines–I was always taught differently, but read it here once that it’s legal. Maybe someone can confirm? However, there are a lot of dangerous left turns that should be banned, medians barriers, etc. This area is definitely a candidate for limiting left turns!
- ITotallyAgreeWithYou November 7, 2019 (1:40 pm)
  
  You can cross a double yellow line to get into/out of driveways and alleyways.
- Olafur November 7, 2019 (5:20 pm)
  
  Yes, RCW 46.61.130 describes no-passing zones and specifically allows a driver to turn left across these markings INTO or FROM an alley, private road or driveway. However, as you’ll see from one of my other comments, the RCW also states that someone pulling out from a driveway must yield to traffic already travelling on the roadway, so it appears the car driver was very much at fault if she pulled out of a driveway and struck a motorcyclist travelling in the roadway.

SillyGoose November 7, 2019 (1:19 pm)

I just googled it and everything says illegal unless it is an emergency. A few years ago I was heading South on 35th Ave SW, put on my turn signal was waiting for on coming traffic to break so I could take a left into Walgreens which meant crossing a double solid yellow lines, a Seattle Police Officer pulled up beside and yelled at me to move, that it was illegal to cross a solid yellow line and hold up traffic. So I went to the light took a left and went down the alley to the parking lot.

KBear November 7, 2019 (3:29 pm)

It is NOT illegal to turn across a double yellow line, and sometimes police officers are wrong. A double yellow line means NO PASSING. It has absolutely nothing to do with making turns.
- Olafur November 7, 2019 (5:30 pm)
  
  Yes, the police officer was incorrect about that traffic law (they’re human, too), but if a police officer instructs you to move, you had best do so, as there are penalties for failing to follow the instructions of a police officer or firefighter directing traffic.
- LAH November 7, 2019 (5:35 pm)
  
  KBEAR is correct. This is from the DOL handbook. “Two solid yellow lines between lanes of traffic means neither side can pass. You may cross yellow lane markings, except medians, to turn left if it is safe.” Page 3-9. My earlier comment was just to point out that the driver was definitely not being safe. Everyone should stop driving like they’re more entitled then the person next to them.

miws November 7, 2019 (4:11 pm)

The topic of the legality of turning over a double yellow line, as well as making U-Turns has occasionally come up here in comments over the years, pretty much since WSB’s inception. As some have mentioned here, and many have mentioned in those previous discussions, I always thought both were illegal and could swear that I was even taught that during Driver’s-Ed at Sealth in the summer of 1974. Sometime, over 16 years ago when I worked at Seattle FilmWorks at 35th & Fauntleroy, I asked one of my customers, who was an SPD officer about that. She stated that both were legal, as long as (at least in the case of a U-Turn), they didn’t impede traffic. Of course, opinions may differ in specific cases as to whether the action is impeding traffic. —Mike

Olafur November 7, 2019 (5:39 pm)

Mike, I commented above about making a left turn across a double yellow line (it’s legal and I cited the specific section of the law), but wanted to mention that U-turns are, in fact, also legal, but with specific caveats. RCW 46.61.295 says U-turns cannot be made unless you can do so safely and without impeding traffic, and may not be made on a curve, or upon the approach to or the crest of a grade, where your vehicle cannot be seen by drivers approaching from either direction within 500 feet. Otherwise, U-turns are legal, unless there is a posted sign prohibiting them.

Olafur November 7, 2019 (5:02 pm)

RCW 46.61.365 says “The driver of a vehicle within a business or residence district emerging from an alley, driveway or building…upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.” So, if the motorcyclist was approaching on the roadway and the car driver was pulling out of a driveway, she’s at fault, period.

Elle Nell November 7, 2019 (11:29 pm)

Since we’re talking about crossing lines, might I add, you can NOT cross double solid, white, lines like the ones at I-5 north on ramp. Can I also add that the merger lane to the one ramp is ZIPPER merge… you drive up and along, while merging to the ramp. You don’t stop at the very beginning of of the ramp… drive and merge, drive and merge.

Sorry, comment time is over.