UPDATE: Bicyclist to hospital after hit-run at California/Hanford

4:05 PM: Thanks for the tips. Avoid California/Hanford for a while – police and SFD are there because of a crash, reportedly involving a pedestrian or bicyclist. NB California is blocked. We are on the way there to find out more.

4:09 PM: Injured person is being taken to Harborview.

(WSB photo)

4:23 PM: Police tell us a driver in a white van hit a bicycle rider and then left the scene. The rider, male, is being taken to the hospital. They’re still looking for the driver. Traffic Collision Investigation detectives are coming to the scene so NB California, closed at Hinds, will be shut off for a while.

8:36 PM: We’ve heard from relatives of the rider in the comment section. And we just heard back from SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley, who says he is 28 years old and was in stable condition when taken to the hospital.

Shandon December 12, 2020 (4:45 pm)

Do they know what kind of white van and which way they were going? I have cameras at Alair.

Angelina December 17, 2020 (8:19 am)

Thank YOU Shandon 🙏🏽

Also John December 12, 2020 (5:23 pm)

It absolutely stuns me that someone would simply drive away. What is happening with mankind?

Frog December 12, 2020 (6:19 pm)

Maybe it was the famous porch pirate who drives a white van.
- Adam December 12, 2020 (8:03 pm)
  
  That’s what i was thinking !!!!!
- ~Hockeywitch~ December 12, 2020 (10:12 pm)
  
  I was thinking this as well…

Mj December 12, 2020 (5:24 pm)

Dang I hope they catch the driver responsible for this and prosecute him or her aggressively. All medical expenses need to be paid by the perp, and I hope the bicyclist is not hurt too seriously.

Gull December 12, 2020 (5:27 pm)

Scary, hope the cyclist will be okay, keep us posted on their condition? So awful to injure someone and drive away. Maybe they were in shock and panicked, hope they come around and do the right thing.

bolo December 12, 2020 (5:36 pm)

Speedy recovery wishes for the cyclist. If you can’t find your bike, check the fire station. That’s where mine was after a similar situation (vehicular hit and run) when they took me to Harborview.

WSB December 12, 2020 (5:36 pm)

I’m waiting to hear back from SFD on condition-when-transported – will update when we get that info.

Tommy December 12, 2020 (5:46 pm)

Thanks for all the support, my brother is at Harborview and spoke with us over the phone. Sounds coherent and getting tests. Hope they catch this POS in the white van

WSB December 12, 2020 (6:06 pm)

Thank you for the update. We wish him speedy and thorough healing. – TR
- Tommy December 13, 2020 (12:27 pm)
  
  Thanks so much. Surgery tomorrow.
sw December 12, 2020 (6:52 pm)

Best wishes to your brother for his recovery.
- Doug December 14, 2020 (9:17 am)
  
  I hope they catch him too Tommy. What an absolute POS. Wishing your brother a speedy recovery —(D&B)

Pam December 12, 2020 (6:09 pm)

Can’t help but wonder if the white van is the Porch Pirate who would have been in a hurry not to get caught with a van full of stolen packages! Absolutely no idea what the van looked like but it did make me wonder.

Cori kempton December 12, 2020 (6:11 pm)

Thank you for all your replies.The injured bicyclist is my nephew.He is a kind loving person and would always help anyone in need.If you have any way of helping we would appreciate..THANKYOU

Neighbor December 12, 2020 (6:16 pm)

An amazon driver delivered to our house and witnessed the hit and run. He was talking to the police in front of our house and might have caught the white van on his camera. I sure hope so. What is wrong with people??!

Dadonabike December 12, 2020 (6:17 pm)

This absolutely sickens me. Riding everyday myself, I have a close call about once a week. I had two this week, one with my kid in tow. It is ALWAYS the result of a driver not paying attention, looking at their phone, speeding, running red lights/stop signs, etc. I for one am glad to see and 100% supportive of the incremental changes that are happening to cripple the ability to drive a car in Seattle. Road diets, drop in speed limits, lane reductions/reconstruction for bike and transit lanes, tolls, etc, bring it all. I’d rather be inconvenienced when driving than continue to see and hear of garbage like this.

Randy December 12, 2020 (6:31 pm)

We as a country need to go to great proverbs and do a google search on it. “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”

Mandy December 13, 2020 (1:06 pm)

The proverbs will indeed show the way, my brother:

Deut. 25:11

When two men are fighting and the wife of one of them intervenes to drag her husband clear of his opponent, if she puts out her hand and catches hold of the man by his privates, you must cut off her hand and show her no mercy.

We as a country need suggestions like these. For sure.
- Wild Bible December 13, 2020 (6:19 pm)
  
  There must have been a rampant package squeezing problem at the time. ;)
zark00 December 13, 2020 (3:22 pm)

Religion is currently tearing this country apart. The Christian right is a force of evil that is destroying our democracy, ripping families apart, and promoting fear, hate, and death. That quote is terrible – the unfaithful will be destroyed?! Keep your cult rhetoric to yourself from now on.

asmiraldom December 12, 2020 (6:33 pm)

Speedy recovery to the bicyclist. This just really sucks. When they catch that white van he or she needs to pay. Bad enough to hit someone. But to run away? Coward!lets also hope we can continue to get safer streets. Admiralson

Gull December 12, 2020 (7:38 pm)

Yes, to safer streets. Was just discussing with a friend earlier, how great protected bike lanes are along Avalon, and it would be good to have more. Hope this cyclists injuries aren’t too serious, sure they are shaken, best wishes for full recovery.

Fred December 12, 2020 (9:19 pm)

I walked around the neighborhood after the accident and I was delighted to see people slow down while they were driving on our narrow streets with cars on both sides. This is unusual and means people are finally pay attention to the humans walking around. I wish a serious accident was not needed to do this and I wish people would naturally slow down on small residential streets. I pray that the bike rider will fully recover that the white van driver is caught asap. I agree with the others that the white van may be the one that’s stealing from our front porches.

WS Bike December 12, 2020 (10:09 pm)

Nearly got hit by a white Ford Transit van in Crawford Pl SW while climbing up to 21st from Delridge. The van came back heading south on 21st soon after. Assumed is was an Amazon driver, but no markings. Double the speed limit and seemed deliberately close pass.

Admiral December 13, 2020 (12:14 pm)

I’m not sure what the white van looked like. Today about 10am, near Belvidere and Admiral there was a crazy driver in a white Toyota van with temp. plates (12/28) and a taped up drivers side window.

Al King December 13, 2020 (1:34 pm)

Guessing the van was either stolen, driver was dui or was wanted by police. Truth is, “safe streets” wouldn’t have stopped this from happening.

Anonymous December 13, 2020 (3:05 pm)

If people want to help, please share this on your social media outlets and ask if anyone was in the area around this time and potentially got a license plate. That would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Westside3 December 13, 2020 (3:31 pm)

“Admiral,” was it a white Toyota Previa by chance? One sped north on Fairmont near SW Forest yesterday afternoon around the time of the accident. I’ll call traffic collision investigators with my info.

ADMIRAL December 14, 2020 (12:23 pm)

Yes I believe it was a Toyota Previa -it had a unique rounded rear shape. I mentioned because the suspect might still be driving around the area. This person I saw cut across 2 lanes and made a last minute turn forcing me to essentially stop on admiral -I could see through the back window just enough to read the temp plates and noticed 12/28 date.
Neighbor December 17, 2020 (2:14 pm)

The family of the victim just published this video. Is this van similar to the one you saw? If so, please share your information. Thanks!https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zHcTcBV3Nyg&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2IkfM300NVZAGyF06SKCZWKn5wf1iseve6BkfBAsUY6hB3Bk_itNlJ7LA
- WSB December 17, 2020 (3:31 pm)
  
  That’s the exact video clip shown above in our story, as sent by the family.

Neighbor December 19, 2020 (8:20 am)

I’ve compiled a video of the van fleeing the scene very fast on SW Hanford Street, within 30 seconds of the incident. Please reach out if you have any information! Thank you.https://youtu.be/d09LaQ8KY3U

Jen K. December 23, 2020 (9:58 am)

I was across the street that day sitting in my car when I heard, but unfortunately did not see it happen. When I saw the cyclist repeatedly lifting his head off the pavement I knew I had to help. I introduced myself and told him I was so sorry we were meeting this way. I explained that I knew it hurt, but he needed to keep his head down until EMTs arrived and got a collar on him. I asked him to concentrate on his breathing and help was on its way. A lovely lady came over offering a blanket which we were so thankful for given that he was laying on cold pavement and certainly in shock. We created a protective circle of people around him and he sweetly thanked all of us for taking care of him. It is beyond me how someone could hit a human being and drive off. We all need to be super careful of cyclists when we’re driving was is essentially a 2 ton weapon. When you fire a gun, you need to be mindful of range and muzzle safety at all times. Please consider this when driving on Seattle’s dark, rainy streets and if something unfortunate does happen, stop and face the situation straight away. Now more than ever, all life is precious and we should all protect it like our West Seattle neighbors protected this young man that day.

Sean W December 26, 2020 (10:54 am)

Thank you so much! I was in shock and pain but you and the other people that surrounded me gave me a sense of calm and focus that allowed me to settle my nerves as I awaited the ambulance. I’m forever grateful. In the future will do what I can to make the streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians!

JES December 23, 2020 (1:17 pm)

I am trying in vain to report a van similar to this with damage- any thoughts? I’ve called non emergency which just rings and rings, and 911 but they just transfer me to non emergency in an endless loop.

WSB December 23, 2020 (1:29 pm)

Try the SW Precinct front desk 206-733-8800

vanessa December 23, 2020 (3:20 pm)

as a very very side note, please don’t wear black coats, black scarves and a black hat and walk around after 4 or 5…….I cant believe how many people are nearly invisible once the sun goes down who dont wear lighter colored clothing or even a flashlight. I almost hit someone the other day/evening, and it scared me to the bone. I certainly got the stink eye from the fellow who was almost hit, but he might as well been a ghost……..just saying. And then he was almost a ghost.

Jason December 25, 2020 (3:59 pm)

There’s a van that parks on the west side of 35th down near Thistle that matches the description -don’t know if there’s any damage to it. Just can’t be too many of these in West Seattle.

CostcoMember December 26, 2020 (10:43 am)

There is a matching van that parks on the West side of 35th Ave near Thistle. Not sure if has damage or not.

Sean W December 26, 2020 (10:50 am)

Hello all, I was the cyclist struck by the white van on 12/12/20. The injuries I sustained from being struck and rolled over by the vehicle was a pelvis fractured in two places, a fracture of my sacrum (lower spine), torn ligament in my right shoulder, three stitches on my chin, and several road rashes/scrapes. Considering the power of the vehicle and the placement of where I was hit, I consider myself lucky to be alive. I want to thank with all my heart the people that immediately surrounded me after I was struck. I can’t imagine going through this experience alone. I have lived in West Seattle my whole life, and it was so meaningful to see my community step up in time of need; which has certainly strengthened my love of our corner of Seattle. In regards to keeping our streets and community safe and justice for my injuries, please reach out to me or anyone in my family if you have any more information about this van. Any details help! Thank you! Sean

Kathy December 26, 2020 (1:12 pm)

Thank you Sean, and best wishes recouperating from your injuries. It is so good to hear you survived. I really hope the driver is found and brought to justice. Motorists, please drive carefully and obey posted speed limits no matter how much you may object to them. People walking and biking on our roads have the same right as you to be there, but they are so much more vulnerable than you. Every time a car zooms by 10-15 mph over the posted speed limit while I’m biking to do my errands, I get a sudden gut-wrenching feeling that they could have easily hit me in a moment of distraction. Though collisions may be infrequent, the repeated stress of knowing that one could happen at a speed that is not survivable can also be hazardous to your health.

Jessie December 27, 2020 (3:01 pm)

I walked by a matching van today parked on 35th ave just south of Brandon, parked facing south on the West side of 35th. The van has damage to the right front bumper area… not sure if it helps but just thought to pass it along.

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