UPDATE: Car-on-side crash at California/Hanford

3;26 PM: A Seattle Fire “rescue extrication” response is headed for California/Hanford [map], where a two-vehicle crash – one on its side – is reported. Updates to come.

(Photo tweeted by @wattorney)

3:31 PM: SFD is downsizing the response – everyone is reported safely out of the vehicles.

(Texted photo)

3:52 PM: No major injuries – medic units were all dismissed from the call. This was on the southbound side of California so continue avoiding the area for a while. (The nearby traffic camera’s “live” image is here.)

3:56 PM: All remaining SFD units are leaving the scene.

4:16 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us that firefighters treated at the scene “a 25-year-old female and an infant who are both in stable condition and did not require transportation to a hospital.” Meantime, the road is back open.

Mary September 16, 2021 (3:38 pm)

Traffic is a mess, California closed in both directions. WSHS letting out. Hope everyone in the cars are okay!

Mr. Flippy September 16, 2021 (4:12 pm)

You get a shirt.

Cp September 16, 2021 (4:36 pm)

Anyone know how this happened? It looks like the airbags deployed in the vehicle on its side. Glad the adult and infant are stable and didn’t need hospitalization.

WestSeattleFlippedCarBoard September 16, 2021 (4:53 pm)

Counted. Stay safe everyone!
https://twitter.com/FlippedWest/status/1438651634846998537

Cindy h September 16, 2021 (4:53 pm)

Does anyone know how on earth this van/SUV would end up on its side? The speed limit is only 25-30 mph.

K September 16, 2021 (5:58 pm)

The speed limit is 25. No clue how this crash happened, but seeing as how people drive these days, speed limits don’t mean much. I was passed on California today driving 27-28 by a driver that almost caused a head on collision. He remained only a car length ahead of me the rest of the time up California.
- David September 16, 2021 (6:58 pm)
  
  It is all about physics. And, no, the SUV doesn’t even have to be travelling 20mph for this to happen: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/safety/uploads/doc/The%20PhysicsRolloverAccidents.htm
  - major_sigh September 16, 2021 (10:54 pm)
    
    Intetesting read David. One more reason why I like my sedan. Who knew it’s also safer.
    - Lamont September 17, 2021 (10:19 am)
      
      A tire-on-tire sideswipe can also cause a tire climb rollover at very slow speeds. The vehicle doesn’t get “hit” to flip it on its side, but it climbs up the other vehicle and gets enough torque from that to send its CG over its other tires and it winds up on its side. Can’t find any videos of it now, but there’s some very slow motion accidents which wind up with a vehicle on its side. That can happen with only 5 or 10 mph collisions.
- The King September 16, 2021 (10:04 pm)
  
  The fact that they stayed only a car length ahead of you after passing could be irrelevant. I’ve gone around people for reasons such as the vehicle in front of me having no brake lights, couldn’t tell if they were driving under the influence or on their phone as those two have same characteristics, vehicles that aren’t mechanically sound (loose parts, flat tires, leaking fluid ). I’m sure there more I have but you get the picture.
  - Mellow Kitty September 17, 2021 (9:15 am)
    
    Your reasons for passing people could be irrelevant. It’s ILLEGAL to pass people on roads like California Ave as there is no passing lane. Contrary to popular beliefs, the turn lane is not a passing lane.
  - sam-c September 17, 2021 (10:34 am)
    
    Yes, could be irrelevant, but hopefully when you pass people for the reasons you list, you pass them legally and safely, as opposed to the people that K refers to, who seem to pass dangerously and aggressively. Sounds sort of like drivers that, after aggressively tailgating me, pass me (when I’m going 27-28mph, like K) on 16th, in the right hand parking lane. Can’t wait for students to be back on SCC campus, and parked along 16th cause that happens a lot and it drives me crazy.

LPM September 17, 2021 (8:12 am)

Um, this is when school is getting out and the speed limit is 20.

baz September 17, 2021 (10:52 am)

west seattle vortex

…no, seriously.

ArtDeco September 17, 2021 (1:09 pm)

Hi, my gf was one of the people who helped yesterday and was contacted that there may have been covid exposure. According to a family member of the girl, her and the baby both had it this month and just got over it?. My gf is isolating and waiting to test and feels pretty crappy. Yes she’s vaccinated but we both had horrible covid last year and now she has recurring pneumonia, permanent asthma, uses an inhaler, had to leave nursing school, can’t run anymore etc so we’re being hyper aware. We also have a small biz and cancelled all our appts to be on the safe side since we work with a lot of elderly clients.We were able to contact one other person directly because she’s a friend of ours, but we didn’t have any info for. Anyone else.It’s nobody’s fault and we all know the risk of helping. Just know if you were super close to the scene to know that there’s a chance of exposure. Yes, it’s probably post infection ability, but due diligence is better than blowing it off.Just trying to help and thanks to those who helped. They’re doing okay it sounds like otherwise.Thanks,D & A

3amwitness September 17, 2021 (4:11 pm)

I work late in the area and I swear to yall at the most silent hour in the morning a month or 2 ago another car did the exact same thing. Something to do with the car hitting a tree right in front of McDonald’s but neither of my coworkers nor I realized what happened until we saw cop lights. Heard no sou d of a car tipping over and landing on its side but it happened. I swear that part of the street is like a Bermuda triangle or something.

Sorry, comment time is over.