UPDATE: DUI suspected in vehicle-on-side crash on Alki Avenue, with 4 children in the car

12:18 PM: Emergency responders are at the scene of what’s reported as a car-on-side crash in the 1500 block of Alki SW (map).

12:21 PM: Adding a texted photo (thank you!). Per crews’ reports from the scene, everyone in the vehicle got out OK but a medic unit is being sent for a woman who may need treatment.

12:33 PM: At least three people will be taken to the hospital, via SFD medic unit and AMR ambulances.

12:44 PM: Added two more texted photos above (thanks to that texter too!). Some of the SFD units are being dismissed.

UPDATE 12:20 PM MONDAY: This is being investigated as DUI, SPD confirms. As for the victims, here’s what SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us:

5 of the occupants were able to self-extricate from the vehicle. Our crews were able to safely extricate the 1 year old female from their car seat.

29 year old female in stable condition.

26 year old male in stable condition.

5 year old male with no reported injuries.

9 year old male with no reported injuries.

7 year old male with minor injuries.

1 year old female with no reported injuries.

All were transported to HMC.

2:16 PM MONDAY: SPD’s update includes this:

At the hospital, the 26-year-old male driver was evaluated and showed signs of impairment. There was evidence of drug use by both the adult occupants. Officers obtained a search warrant for a blood sample from the driver. Following his release from the hospital, the driver was booked into the King County Jail for DUI.

44 Replies to "UPDATE: DUI suspected in vehicle-on-side crash on Alki Avenue, with 4 children in the car"

  • DENNIS KING March 29, 2020 (12:39 pm)

    Middle of the road, middle of the day on a(hopefully) empty road. I can never figure out how a car lands in these kinds of positions.

    • sw March 29, 2020 (2:49 pm)

      9/10 it is distracted driving. If you are in your car, put your phone away. 

  • Stay HOME March 29, 2020 (12:59 pm)

    Stay at home. Stay out of the ER unless you need immediate COVID19 resuscitation. Stay home that means stay home. You are putting yourself and others who are in the ER at risk. This is selfish behavior. Stay home.

    • Catey March 30, 2020 (6:31 am)

      Not everyone can “stay home”. Medical staff, grocery employees, and delivery people all have work to do. 

  • bolo March 29, 2020 (12:59 pm)

    Ouch! Judging by the second photo, that one does look especially bad.

  • LG March 29, 2020 (1:45 pm)

    I hope the person is okay. I don’t understand how a car lands on it’s side on a straight stretch. Was there speeding involved, another car cut this car off, how? I partially want to know to avoid this myself since we seem to get quite a few for one area of town. 

    • Railroaded March 29, 2020 (2:19 pm)

      If you drive safely and defensively you can ***usually*** avoid wrecks.

  • FlippedCarTrackerBoardThingy March 29, 2020 (1:48 pm)

    https://twitter.com/FlippedWest/status/1244357279744323584Hope everyone is okay. It’s pretty crazy that there are crashes this bad when the state is on lockdown… Drive safe please.

  • JAG March 29, 2020 (2:18 pm)

    I am glad there were no serious injuries. Maybe Harbor Ave needs to be shut down to car traffic. I was on a walk and noticed people are still driving across the bridge to the beach. 

    • Alki resident March 29, 2020 (3:14 pm)

      People are allowed to do that. 

      • Word March 29, 2020 (4:48 pm)

        Isn’t the high bridge closed and the lower bridge only for emergency and public vehicles?Don’t think people going to the beach qualifies as either.

      • Word March 29, 2020 (4:50 pm)

        Isn’t the lower bridge closed allowing only emergency and public transit vehicles only?

        • Julie Berry April 2, 2020 (12:24 am)

          I’ve seen several vehicles take the lower bridge so maybe it’s open to all now and I’ve been the idiot taking the long way home.

          • WSB April 2, 2020 (12:37 am)

            No, it’s NOT open to all – but many are continuing to ignore the request to keep it open to emergency, freight, transit.

  • John March 29, 2020 (2:23 pm)

    The right front of the car on its side hit the rear left of the SUV parked on the street, which you can see in the first picture.

  • JES March 29, 2020 (2:46 pm)

    Wonderful, 3 more people in the hospital unnecessarily. Lets try to avoid that, maybe you’ve heard this really isn’t a good time to be going there. Can we all just agree to stop making the current situation worse?

  • J March 29, 2020 (2:49 pm)

    Hmm… with all the pedestrians I can never seem to go faster than about 15mph on that stretch. That’s no fender bender.

  • Sof March 29, 2020 (3:22 pm)

    Looks like a lot of packed on lookers out there… so much for social distancing. 

    • rr March 29, 2020 (3:47 pm)

      I noticed the same thing and its VERY frustrating.  Just stay home people!  I work in a local hospital and would love to flatten the curve, but it takes everyone’s compliance!

    • Also John March 29, 2020 (7:06 pm)

      My first thought too.  Then I was mad to see all the walkers in the bikes only lane.  As a biker that drives me nuts.

      • WSB March 29, 2020 (7:38 pm)

        To clarify that,there is no “bikes only” lane on the trail. They dropped that a long time ago. It’s why, for example, the worn-off markings closer to the central beach weren’t repainted.

        • bolo March 29, 2020 (8:26 pm)

          Do you know if SDOT is using the same reasoning for the worn-off sharrows markings along S/B Fauntleroy Way SW?

          • WSB March 29, 2020 (8:41 pm)

            I have not asked them about sharrows. I don’t believe any new ones are being painted, though, so that might be a hint.

          • bolo March 29, 2020 (10:24 pm)

            Thanks!

  • Kim March 29, 2020 (3:50 pm)

    There was a baby in the back seat.  I know that neighbors/passersby attempted to help extricate the child(ren), and those first responders have have been hurt breaking glass.

  • kim March 29, 2020 (3:58 pm)

    left out: “may” have been hurt…

    • WSB March 29, 2020 (4:05 pm)

      Thanks. I’m following up with SFD.

  • Nancy Adams March 29, 2020 (4:05 pm)

    Spoke with an officer on the scene.  They believe driver impairment was an issue.  Four unrestrained children in car with driver.

    • Guy Olson March 29, 2020 (6:56 pm)

      Impairment…how so?

    • Citizen Sane March 29, 2020 (7:17 pm)

      Driver impairment? As in drugs/alcohol? With kids in the car?

    • LB March 29, 2020 (7:52 pm)

      Well that explains it. 

  • Rick March 29, 2020 (4:50 pm)

    The West Seattle Vortex strikes again!

  • wetone March 29, 2020 (5:34 pm)

    Glad people involved aren’t seriously hurt. Was down there yesterday and people were walking across road like there’s nothing in their walk way ? Hope this is not the case. 25 mph. Vehicles don’t stop instantly. Please have eye contact as it really helps drivers. 

    • KM March 29, 2020 (7:49 pm)

      Eye contact helps drivers? Nah, they can see my body before they lock eyeballs with me. More often than not, when I make eye contact with a driver, they take it as permission to NOT yield. The “this pedestrians sees me, they know I’m not going to slow down, so we’re all safe here” kind of reasoning. I’m not responsible for shaming drivers into yielding via eye contact.

  • Janelle March 29, 2020 (9:20 pm)

    Hope everyone is okay.

    I think people are a bit out of sorts right now, on edge and distracted by all that is going on. Not great for driving. Be careful out there!

    I’ve been hearing a lot of horn honking in my neighborhood the last couple weeks that wasn’t happening before. Anyone else?

  • Mj March 29, 2020 (10:37 pm)

    KM that is a bad attitude.  Eye contact improves safety for all parties and the fact is when we are pedestrians we are more vulnerable.  Why would you trust a motorist to see you?  

    • KM March 30, 2020 (6:47 am)

      I don’t automatically trust a driver to see me/not going to just jump out in front of a car and it’s not my responsibility to make eye contact with a driver, these aren’t mutually exclusive. Making eye contact also requires cooperation from both parties, and is a hard thing to do when a person is wearing sunglasses, certain windshield designs, time of day/lighting, general anti-social behavior, etc. It’s a “request” that a lot of drivers put on pedestrians unnecessarily, like “wearing bright clothing” or “use the flags” to distract from their responsibility and unsafe driving. We should encourage drivers to slow down and abide by the law, not give pedestrians a list of tasks to complete, when discussing road safety.

  • anonyme March 30, 2020 (7:51 am)

    The notion of pedestrians making eye contact with drivers is nonsense.  Usually, a pedestrian can only see a shape through the windshield, but not eyeballs.  Drivers, on the other hand, have a clearer view of pedestrians, and may wrongly assume that if the pedestrian glances in the direction of their face that eye contact has been made.  Nor is there any legal requirement for pedestrians to make eye contact before being allowed to use a crosswalk (which, btw, are any two corners, marked or otherwise).  And I agree with KM – I’ve had multiple drivers tell me that, having seen them/ostensibly made eye contact, it was up to me to wait for them.  While I don’t advocate for pedestrians behaving recklessly, the burden is on drivers to pay attention instead of making up excuses to disobey the law and endanger people.

    • Tim March 30, 2020 (2:01 pm)

      I would like to weigh in on this , as a runner and runners advocate. You are both 100% correct, drivers are at fault if a pedestrian is hurt, especially in a crosswalk.  And it is the drivers responsibility to make sure they are doing everything in their power to keep pedestrians safe. But, you need to bear the responsibility of making sure you are doing whatever it takes to stay safe as well. We tell our runners that you can be as indignant and self-righteous as you would like, but you’ll be doing it from a hospital bed if you don’t ensure that those drivers see you and have stopped for you to cross safely.  No one cares about your safety more than you, so don’t think that because the driver is responsible that you can do the minimum required and cross a road safely.  I see too many walkers/runners look at a car and than just walk/run across the street without ensuring that driver sees you. If you aren’t sure they see you, don’t cross the road, simple as that.I always suggest wearing bright, preferably with lights, clothing when out after sun down, even if it’s still light outside. The number of people that cross the road in a crosswalk wearing all black is astounding. Add a little rain to a windshield and you are invisible.  Even the most safety conscious drivers need you to take some responsibility. If your crossing an intersection, turn your phone light on and face it towards traffic, instead of staring at it and counting on the drivers to see you.Safety takes everyone paying attention, so assume everyone else isn’t before you cross the street.

      • KM March 30, 2020 (3:57 pm)

        Thanks for proving my point about how we talk about pedestrian “responsibility” to distract from driver behavior, Tim. 

  • Lola March 30, 2020 (9:10 am)

    This stretch of Alki also has gone down to 25 MPH recently.  Not sure if speed was a factor or not?  Were they ticketed for the un-restrained kids?  Janelle,The horn honking could be that the Walkers or Joggers are in the middle of the street.  I have seen an uptick in my neighborhood alone especially early morning as I leave for work.  If nobody is on the sidewalk please walk or jog there as it is hard enough to navigate our new routs due to the closure of the WS bridge. Thank you. 

  • WSB March 30, 2020 (12:20 pm)

    I followed up with SPD and SFD. This IS being investigated as DUI and they expect more info a bit later today. Meantime, I got info on the victims and am adding that above momentarily – TR

  • Kristine Tennyson March 30, 2020 (6:49 pm)

    This is not exactly what happened. First responders were local citizens who extracted everyone from the car including the baby. One of the first responding citizens actually ripped out the windshield with her bare hands sustaining injuries to herself in the process. 

  • faceless April 2, 2020 (11:38 am)

    my only question is: who drives drunk/drugs with their kids in the car?

Sorry, comment time is over.