UPDATE: Alki Avenue crash atop the seawall, and aftermath

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12:47 AM: The reader who texted these photos says this crash happened in the vicinity of 1238 Alki Avenue SW, and that the driver took out a “garden, bench, fire hydrant, light pole … hitting the light pole probably saved the car from going into the water.”

No SFD medical dispatch, so apparently no injuries.

10:26 AM: Tweets by Beat confirms this is being investigated as DUI. Meantime, Stewart L. sends photos of the aftermath:

The texter last night mentioned that the driver also took out “Siriya’s garden.” Siriya is a neighborhood resident who tends a path of planting strip there. Stewart sent before/after photos:

Stewart says, “I say hi to Siriya all the time as I stroll past her garden that she lovingly tends to, and to see all of her work plowed over in a second was really upsetting. She works so hard on this to beautify the neighborhood.”

Flivver October 25, 2020 (9:44 am)

Was the driver arrested? Wondering if this was a dui.

a concerned neighbor October 25, 2020 (9:45 am)

This is the THIRD auto accident in the last few months at exactly this spot. The hazard is caused by the shift in the traffic pattern created to accommodate the condo construction at 1250 Alki which protrudes into the street.

WSB October 25, 2020 (10:25 am)

It’s being investigated as a case of DUI.
- concerned neighbor October 25, 2020 (12:12 pm)
  
  All three accidents may have involved a DUI but all three drivers made it through the rest of Alki and then crashed at exactly the same spot. Its certainly possible that their impairment made it more diffucult for them to navigate this curve which is dangerous for everyone.
  - lynn October 25, 2020 (5:11 pm)
    
    they shouldn’t be driving impaired then. The road wasn’t difficult to navigate. They were just morons to drink and drive.
  - A flower loving neighbor October 25, 2020 (6:38 pm)
    
    Adding insult to injury, Siriya planted a garden in the same spot in 2019 and it was summarily dug up when the city put in a fire hydrant as part of the condo construction. She started all over again and her new garden was destroyed by a reckless driver who managed to take out that fire hydrant too.
WSdriversAreTheWorst October 25, 2020 (11:09 am)

No, the hazard is caused by drivers who are not paying attention or are drunk.
Alki resident October 25, 2020 (12:15 pm)

Sorry but that patch of road has never made me head towards the water.
skeeter October 26, 2020 (2:24 pm)

I encourage folks to refer to this type of event as a
collision and not an “accident.” An
accident is when you stub your toe or spill a beverage. Accidents happen and there’s not much you can
do to avoid them. When a car runs off
the road or hits a car or pedestrian or building, it is rarely an accident. It is almost always the result of impaired
driving, reckless driving, distracted driving, etc. These types of collisions are not accidents –
they are entirely preventable with proper driving and responsible choices. And thank you to WSB for consistently not
using the term “accident” to describe vehicle collisions.

J P H October 25, 2020 (10:49 am)

Hey West Seattle Nursery, Perhaps you can help Siriya replace and repair her garden? Maybe donate some plants? She loves the caretaking and the plant costs come out of her pocket.

Melanie October 25, 2020 (1:03 pm)

I would be up to donating a small amount to give her a credit at the nursery if she could confirm she would want that.
Patrick October 25, 2020 (1:07 pm)

Nice sentiment, but let’s remember that our local businesses are suffering financially due to COVID-19. Perhaps neighbors could raise some funds instead.
- Dan October 25, 2020 (2:50 pm)
  
  Ummm Patrick did you read the comment or just automatically start complaining dude? Siriya, if you read this how can I help with your garden? I would love to lend a hand to you a
  - Cats over you October 26, 2020 (7:57 pm)
    
    Um Dan, did you read or just start complaining? Maybe you should read what Patrick wrote and understand he was saying that WS Nursery shouldn’t donate but people could contribute to support a local business.
  - Stuck in West Seattle October 30, 2020 (11:47 am)
    
    I would love to help as well, whether in labor or in plants etc. Just let us know.
BetteDavisEyes October 25, 2020 (2:13 pm)

J P H, that’s a very lovely thought, but Siriya’s beautiful garden appears to have been composed of annuals, which would all have died very soon, due to frost and freezing temperatures. The garden would have been barren all winter, anyway, and she would have had to replace them with new plants in the spring, even if this hadn’t happened. While that doesn’t mean the driver of the car shouldn’t be responsible for some reparations, the value of plants that are ready to die any day now is pretty small. I’m curious, though, why you think the cost should be borne by a locally owned small business trying to stay open and pay its employees during the pandemic, rather than by the driver who caused the damages?
My two cents ... October 25, 2020 (4:12 pm)

@JPH maybe it would be better if you started a crowdfunding campaign compared to calling out a business.
- JPH October 25, 2020 (8:26 pm)
  
  Thanks MY TWO CENTS, I hoped that a crowd funding initiative would be bourne from my innocent comment to West Seattle Nursery. But, alas, folks would rather shoot holes in my thought and attack it, rather than respectfully offer other ideas or variations. I give up.
  - Gull October 26, 2020 (1:07 pm)
    
    I saw it as a nice thought and initiative, and mentioning the business in this way is a small marketing/PR opportunity for them. Don’t worry about the negs.

MS October 25, 2020 (11:51 am)

Great idea JPH I think that would be a wonderful gesture!!!!

Mj October 25, 2020 (12:46 pm)

JPH – it would be nice to see the driver responsible for the damages to the garden be made to make reparations!

Jim P. October 25, 2020 (12:48 pm)

Does anyone know if the city or the utility companies bill the driver who causes these little “oopsies” for the cost of undoing their destruction?

Seems only reasonable to expect financial responsibility for your actions or am I hopelessly out of touch with modern sensibilities? ;)

Joel October 25, 2020 (2:27 pm)

I believe they do bill for damages caused by the driver – but….these days you have to ask…was it even their car….do they have insurance…a license to drive? billing for damages and collecting aren’t always the same.

Andrea Saunders October 25, 2020 (3:32 pm)

Yes, it gets charged to the person’s auto insurance, or else it gets billed to them directly. Generally it’s $9000 – $11000 to replace a light pole. I would think the flower garden would be considered property damage and come out of the auto insurance coverage as well.

dhg October 25, 2020 (4:46 pm)

So 9K to 11K for the pole? Whoa. Hope the person has insurance. Compensation for the flower garden would go to the property owner, which would be the City. And I don’t think they would….ahem… plow that money back into the garden patch.

Lori S. October 25, 2020 (4:47 pm)

Not only should the driver/insurance pay to replace the garden, the driver should also help Siriya replant the garden!!!

Matt O October 25, 2020 (8:48 pm)

This section of Alki Ave has 5 consecutive street lights that aren’t working. SCL was informed of this a few months ago, but has done nothing to correct the problem. Perhaps this will finally get them addressed. Regarding the other accidents at this location;the first accident was a crash on the South side of the road and the driver left the scene. the second was on 4th of July and the driver was going so fast they flipped the car. Ticketed, but no DUI

WSB October 25, 2020 (10:11 pm)

Actually, the flipped-car crash July 4th DID result in a citation for DUI – the driver who hit that car and caused it to flip is set to go to trial next month – your comment reminded me that I hadn’t followed up, so I just checked the file. Sometimes there’s a long lag – in this case, the charge was filed a month and a half later, on August 21st. We had brief coverage as part of a rolling series of updates on the holiday night and didn’t even have word of a second car. The documents say a 20-year-old woman who told police she had been drinking and smoking marijuana at Alki crossed the line and hit the van that flipped – with a man, 9-months-pregnant woman, and their two young children inside. Amazingly, none of them were hurt, although the pregnant woman was taken to the hospital as a precaution. – TR