TRAFFIC ALERT: Seattle City Light at 35th/Findlay after driver hits pole

(WSB photo)

That crash happened on the east side of 35th and Findlay, currently partly blocking northbound traffic on 35th as well as both ways on Findlay. Police say the driver hit the pole, “fracturing it at the base,” and say, “The pole began to lean over Sw Findlay St. but was stopped by the wedged vehicle and the overhead power lines.” City Light advised them to leave the wrecked car in place till they could come back and fix the pole, which they’re doing right now:

(Photo tweeted by @_neslo)

Police say the driver was unhurt but was driving “distracted” at the time of the crash.

11:20 AM: Just went by. City Light crews are still on scene; outside NB lane still blocked.

Yup April 11, 2021 (9:59 am)

I love that “distracted”.

Jort April 11, 2021 (10:36 am)

The city’s collision database shows a pedestrian injured by a private automobile driver just down the street at 35th and Raymond a few weeks ago. Jenny Durkan, in her first weeks in office, put a halt to planned and approved safety improvements on 35th north of Morgan, improvements which can prevent injuries to people and light poles. Incidents like these are what happens when you blow off safety in favor of unfettered motorist convenience. In light of the abysmally long, long list of failures in the Durkan administration, a new mayor should reconsider Durkan’s foolish and mean-spirited decision to ignore safety concerns on 35th and announce, on day one, that they are bringing back the full 35th re-channelization project. SLOW DOWN I-35.

WSB April 11, 2021 (11:51 am)

If we’re going to discuss I-35 in general, it should be noted that crashes continue on the rechannelized section as well. We were away from the desk at the time of a crash yesterday at 35th/Rose, no serious injuries to people (or poles for that matter) so I didn’t write about it but neighbors say it was the second crash there this week. – TR
- Jort April 11, 2021 (4:29 pm)
  
  Crashes continue on the southern portion, but not at the severity of injury or property damage as the northern portion. The reason why is simple: people drive faster in the northern portion, and driving faster contributes more than any other factor to the severity of the outcome of collisions. Yes, there are still fender benders from people who tailgate in the southern portion. The collateral damage from those crashes is dwarfed by that of high-speed crashes.
Ktrapp April 11, 2021 (12:19 pm)

I’m curious as to what safety improvement would prevent a “driving while distracted” incident like this one. Unless it involves lining 35th with bumper rails and encasing the bottom third of all utility poles in a couple feet of concrete, I think the association is misplaced.
- Anne April 11, 2021 (1:06 pm)
  
  Nothing. But logic /facts don’t apply- some wouldn’t be happy until every car was banned.
  - Jort April 11, 2021 (4:26 pm)
    
    Nope! I won’t be happy until cars are no longer one of the most dangerous things in America, and are no longer the leading cause of death of young adults. If you think that means “banning cars,” that says more about you than it does me.
    - Derek April 12, 2021 (8:44 am)
      
      You realize how ableist making everyone a bike only society is? Not everyone has legs or can ride a bike.
    - Jort April 12, 2021 (10:32 am)
      
      Who said anything about bikes? If you interpret: “require, by design, drivers to drive safely” to mean “everybody must ride a bike,” that says more about your ideas for road safety than it does mine.
- bill April 11, 2021 (11:06 pm)
  
  Narrowing the road by removing lanes (rechannelization) forces people to pay better attention. It also makes speeding feel properly risky, so people slow down. These are the logic and facts.
Auntie April 11, 2021 (12:23 pm)

There is a crosswalk and traffic light at 35th & Raymond. I’m wondering just how a car managed to plow down a pedestrian there. Running a red light? Taking a turn onto 35th from Raymond without noticing a pedestrian in the crosswalk? In any case, it calls for drivers to slow down, be more cautious, and for pedestrians to realize that having the right of way doesn’t always mean anything to drivers who are in too much of a hurry or “distracted.”

Distracted? April 11, 2021 (11:35 am)

I wonder what the cost of these power pole downing are?
It may only be due to enhanced local reporting, but it seems these are happening regularly.
Do the “distracted” and “DUI” drivers have to pay if they are uninsured or under-insured?

Chris Williams April 11, 2021 (4:33 pm)

I was riding my bike this morning on the sidewalk this morning and came upon this mess this morning. If I went by this spot a little bit earlier I may have been hit. Put your cell phones in the glovebox peopleI was riding my bike on the sidewalk being safe this morning when I came upon this wreck. If I was little bit earlier I could have been hit by this “distracted driver”. Put your phones in your glove box people.

WSB April 11, 2021 (7:14 pm)

Actually an officer told us later the “distraction” was possibly a case of falling asleep at the wheel.
- KM April 11, 2021 (8:56 pm)
  
  I don’t think people realize how many way there are to harm or kill people from behind the wheel.
- Wide Awake Now April 12, 2021 (1:23 pm)
  
  It’s fortunate the driver hit the pole rather than going through the fence and into the house!

1994 April 11, 2021 (8:44 pm)

There was an accident near 35th and Thistle on Saturday, and last week a major rear-ending accident at 30th & Roxbury…..unfortunately, accidents do happen.

Joe Z April 11, 2021 (9:54 pm)

“Collision” not “accident”
- bill April 11, 2021 (11:12 pm)
  
  Or start calling crashes “deliberates.” Speeding is a choice. Running a light is a choice. Texting is a choice. Operating your infotainment system is a choice (in which auto designers are culpable as well). Deliberately diverting your attention from driving has foreseeable consequences.
  - Barb Z April 12, 2021 (8:03 am)
    
    In total agreement with Bill. Add to the list tailgating with no room for reacting.
- 1994 April 12, 2021 (9:17 pm)
  
  Oh those hoi polloi! Good grief, you have never had an accident?
Jort April 12, 2021 (10:36 am)

Car collisions are not supernatural acts of god that befall unlucky people by chance: they happen because drivers, deliberately or not, make choices that cause collisions. America loses a 737 airplane’s-worth of adults every few days from car crashes. Would people just throw up their hands and say “accidents happen” if a 737 crashed every two days? No.

Anna Florey April 14, 2021 (6:45 pm)

I recently began working as a nanny right at 35th and Findlay, and it took me over a month to get the nerve to attempt to cross 35th because of the way people choose to drive. I can barely cross Juneau on 35th without nearly being hit because everyone is looking left for vehicles and not both directions for other people. They will look right at me and keep driving. I’m so glad my tax dollars went to pay for all the 25mph signs and radar for the readings, flashing numbers, and “slow down” when everyone’s just going to go 40 anyway. Why have speed limits if no ones going to follow them? Makes me livid.

Sorry, comment time is over.