UPDATE: 16th closed south of Roxbury after driver hits gas line

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | White Center

6:07 PM: King County Sheriff’s Deputies are blocking off 16th SW in White Center south of Roxbury after a report of a crash and possible gas leak at 16th/98th. Updates to come.

6:24 PM: Deputies have just told dispatch “the gas is off” but the closure will continue for a little while until Puget Sound Energy arrives. Our crew has just arrived and a fire captain tells us they’re talking with nearby businesses to get them to “air out” as the leaked gas dissipates.

6:39 PM: Added photo of the car that hit the gas line on the north side of Beer Star’s building.

6:50 PM: Deputies just told dispatch that all but the 16th/98th intersection can reopen; cleanup there will take a while longer.

Leah July 9, 2021 (6:15 pm)

It’s definitely a gas leak. A car crashed into the gas meter just outside of Beer Star. Strong smell of gas. Everyone was being evacuated.

Tim July 9, 2021 (6:20 pm)

I was at Beer Star when this happened. A car drove on the sidewalk and crashed into one of the gas meters on the north side of the building. It almost immediately smelled like gas both inside and outside. The car was abandoned as they were blocking the streets. Glad no one was hurt by the car, but bummer for the businesses that will be affected by this.

BlairJ July 9, 2021 (7:57 pm)

I watched it happen from the NE corner of the intersection. Two vehicles collided and one spun across the intersection, up onto the sdewalk, sliding backward into the gas meter manifold, popping off some of the meters. I started yelling “Gas leak!” and another witness yelled to the driver to get away from his car.

Gary Langenbach July 9, 2021 (6:21 pm)

They have evacuated the remaining businesses in the block

WSB July 9, 2021 (6:32 pm)

Should be wrapping up shortly. Gas is off now.

BetteDavisEyes July 9, 2021 (7:50 pm)

I hope the driver is okay, too. Maybe a medical emergency? I can’t imagine how else someone would get there…

luke July 9, 2021 (8:10 pm)

Here’s the crash. I had a front row seat.https://1drv.ms/v/s!AlNYUDJ0heJPhv5PUMmVD8vnUmvClQ

WSB July 9, 2021 (10:08 pm)

Error message.
- Jesse July 10, 2021 (12:21 am)
  
  The link will work if you have Microsoft OneDrive installed on your phone
  - BlairJ July 10, 2021 (1:24 am)
    
    The link works on my LG TV. Very clear video.
V O Barraza July 9, 2021 (10:17 pm)

Thanks for sharing
RL July 9, 2021 (10:44 pm)

Wreckless driver, that sedan blows through the stop sign, then speeds up a bit and steers left just before impact. Nice move.
Bollard July 9, 2021 (11:06 pm)

Did the police get this video? The sedan/gas meter destroyer clearly blasted through that stop sign. Also, the location of that meter warrants some bollard protection. Was there none? Hey Beer Star, put some serious concrete-filled steel in front of that thing. Also, first sign of kid vaccine, get that kid pit back!
- luke n zankich July 10, 2021 (11:04 am)
  
  I told them I had video. They called me a couple hours later and I sent them the link. The officer wasn’t sure they could get it from a link, and they wanted it emailed, but it’s 241 MB. I guess the police are barely in the information age and do not have a Dropbox or any system to receive video which is ALWAYS too large to email.
- AN July 10, 2021 (12:32 pm)
  
  Wow, Bollard, you sure are demanding toward a small business owner who’s not only one of the best but has also gone through a horrific year and a half and now this. Have some decency, fer chrissakes, or at least some manners and offer a “please” and a “thank you”. Your entitlement underwear is showing and it’s icky.
  - J July 11, 2021 (11:16 am)
    
    Hmmm…while I’m not against politeness in general, I wouldn’t necessarily call the group that bank rolls Beer Star a “small business owner”.
Ada July 10, 2021 (2:08 am)

Oh wow that was crazy. That driver just blew through the intersection. I need to get a dash cam. Thanks for sharing!
- luke n zankich July 10, 2021 (11:12 am)
  
  I got it because I was hit and the person made up a completely outrageous story to explain the physical evidence, which clearly showed them at fault. The insurance companies decided that because they had a different story we were both at fault! Cost me thousands in raised premiums. So for $50 I can now prove who’s at fault.

Avery July 9, 2021 (8:11 pm)

I was a witness standing on the corner outside of Pho Tai at the intersection of 98th and 16th. There was a collision in the intersection. A black car T-boned a green car that had not fully stopped at the 4 way stop. The collision pushed the green car into Beer Star wall hitting gas metre and a causing leak which resulted in closing of intersection and evacuating nearby businesses.

luke n zankich July 10, 2021 (11:22 am)

My video shows that actually neither car stopped. The Escalade in front of me did a California stop, but the car just barely tapped the brakes and blew the stop sign. The Escalade was on the right and had right of way, I believe. But I’ve seen it where the other driver makes up a story. Especially in a situation like this where the Escalade actually hit the side of the car that came from the left. They make the argument that they were there first, so were first at the intersection, and other guy should have stopped and not ran into me.

waikikigirl July 10, 2021 (6:59 pm)

I’m almost 99% sure this is the same car (hit Beer Stars) that played “chicken” with me and the husband Thursday on SW 100th St. by Starbucks/Popeyes Chicken! We were heading W on 100th just went thru the 4 way stop on 15th SW and this car was E bound it passed a truck in front of it and stayed in our lane for a good 1/2 block and did not swerve back into its own lane until we swerved right and he almost hit us then he blew thru 15th SW’s stop and then blew thru 14th SW’s stop too.So if this is the same person he was doing this on purpose and thankfully no one was hurt at either incidences.

Sorry, comment time is over.