UPDATE: Crash at 8th/Roxbury sends 3 to hospital

3:26 PM: Big Seattle Fire “rescue extrication” response is headed to a crash scene at 8th and Roxbury [map], with one car reported to be “on fire.” Avoid the area. Updates to come.

(Added: WSB photos)

3:32 PM: No one’s trapped, so the response is being reduced slightly, but traffic is still being blocked around the scene, including on the unincorporated-area side south of the intersection. Three people are reported hurt, none with life-threatening injuries.

3:43 PM: Photo added above. That’s the southeast corner of 8th/Roxbury.

3:48 PM: Added another photo. Seattle and King County responders are both working on this. SPD has 8th closed about half a block north, KCSO has it closed about half a block south, and Roxbury is closed at the intersection. Of the injured people, two – male and female – were taken by medic unit to Harborview, while the third with less-serious injuries, male, was taken to a hospital by private ambulance. Investigators are still sorting out how this happened.

5 PM: Metro says buses are back to their regular routing on Roxbury, which indicates the intersection has at least partly reopened.

steve mg April 7, 2022 (3:34 pm)

I live just 1 street down (9th) and heard the crash. Lots of smoke was pouring out of the intersection. Plenty of emergency crews arrived and are continuing to arrive.

WSNeighbor April 7, 2022 (3:43 pm)

Roxbury currently shut down. Wishing the best for all involved.

Jeff April 7, 2022 (3:47 pm)

It seems like every couple months there is a pretty bad collision at that intersection, and it’s not hard to see why. No protected lefts from Roxbury, bad sight lines eastbound, and no easy way to address either one of those.

Barry M April 7, 2022 (4:20 pm)

“No protected lefts from Roxbury, bad sight lines eastbound, and no easy way to address either one of those. “Sure there is… don’t run the red light like the cool dude in the car did here.
Jort April 7, 2022 (9:23 pm)

There are imminently easy ways to “solve” these issues, but they would require tradeoffs in motorist convenience, namely through lane reductions. Instead, we tolerate crashes like these,
Steve.mg April 8, 2022 (8:27 am)

When I first moved here about 20+ years ago, I feel like I heard a crash every week. I started calling it Dead Man’s Curve. It would help if we had arrows on all four sides of the light…Even better: donut that intersection!

KD April 7, 2022 (4:01 pm)

I saw that as I was on my way to pick up my son from preschool. Terrifying! Glad that none of the injuries appear to be life threatening, but sending love to all involved.

Leah April 8, 2022 (12:18 am)

The two in the grey car were my friends, they both had serious injuries. One of them punchered her left lung, broke 11 ribs, fractured her neck, and is bleeding from her lung internally. They’re trying to stop the bleeding. She’s in the ICU. She’s pretty banged up! Please pray for her. I pray the other driver is doing okay as well. This intersection is extremely dangerous. I also have friends whom live in the apartments near the crash site and it appears an accident happens in this area every day. I don’t know what Sdot plans to do about it, but they need to change this intersection ASAP. God bless everyone today involved.. I send my condolences to the other driver of the Honda and his family as well.
- Lp April 8, 2022 (7:53 pm)
  
  How is the man who was in the back seat? Does he know a bystander pulled him from the burning car before EMS/FD even made it to the scene?
  - Leah April 8, 2022 (10:01 pm)
    
    Which car did this man come out of the backseat from?
    - Ashley April 11, 2022 (4:56 pm)
      
      The man was pulled out of the dark grey car

xavier April 7, 2022 (4:13 pm)

People are in such a hurry these days with the West Seattle bridge still closed. The city has to do something to relieve the traffic troubles along these residential streets.

ZoZo April 7, 2022 (4:45 pm)

Can they do one direction with a green light at a time?

CL April 7, 2022 (4:48 pm)

Update? Is traffic flowing yet?

WSB April 7, 2022 (4:55 pm)

No update yet.
- WSB April 7, 2022 (5:00 pm)
  
  However, I see buses have resumed travel on Roxbury, so that would indicate that the intersection has at least partly reopened.

Paul April 7, 2022 (4:58 pm)

I have written to Herbald and SDOT several times as I have almost been in several accidents in this very location. It amazes me that they don’t do a thing with this intersection. It badly needs appropriate light signals, meaning one lane with turn option while the other 3 directions wait. It would greatly improve traffic flow and reduce accidents.

uncle loco April 7, 2022 (6:38 pm)

Yeah the light sequencing at that intersection is really goofy. Today I noticed heading westbound the left turn arrow was on for 2 seconds while the other lights remained on red. Not even enough time for a single car to make a left. After the 2 seconds left turn arrow disappears then green light for westbound and eastbound traffic. Recipe for head on collisions.

ThreePs April 7, 2022 (8:21 pm)

As Uncle Loco stated the left turn light was on for only 2 seconds…how can a car safely make its left when so many people run the red lights nowadays !?
Naevers April 8, 2022 (8:20 am)

Omg I also noticed that! I was heading to an appointment and remember being at that light a few hours before the accident and saw the green arrow only for like two seconds literally just a flash and I remember thinking “oh wow that was a really short green light..how can anyone turn safely there?” After my appointment I must’ve arrived right after the accident happened. I’m glad no one died, seeing that was heartbreaking. I hope they are ok.
datamuse April 8, 2022 (4:58 pm)

I’ve noticed that too, and it’s really weird.

Jort April 7, 2022 (9:15 pm)

I am told constantly that King Country Metro is “unsafe,” yet here we have more people heading to the hospital due to a car collision. How many Metro riders were sent to the hospital with serious injuries today? Or this week?

Ann April 7, 2022 (10:48 pm)

I saw the accident happen. The driver was weaving and changing lanes and going very fast to make a yellow light from way back, and T-boned the person turning left. I don’t think he hit the brakes at all. It was awful to see and hear, such reckless driving. I called 911 and the car next to me stopped and the driver jumped out to help. Many followed to help with fire extinguishers and trying to get people out of the car.

Leah April 8, 2022 (12:09 am)

Did you make a witness statement?
- Ann April 9, 2022 (12:06 pm)
  
  911 has all of my information.
tom April 8, 2022 (1:49 am)

If both cars have entered the intersection prior to the light turning red, is the left turner always at (legal) fault in this case?

Traffic Relief April 8, 2022 (7:00 am)

I have also emailed Herbold and the find-it-fix-it app many times pleading for left turn signals from Roxbury onto 8th, along with – and especially – No Left Turn signs during rush hour. Crazy how people selfishly insist on turning left from either direction of Roxbury even during extremely heavy Roxbury traffic. These left turns cause huge backups on Roxbury as well as immense road rage. Go a few more blocks to make your turn at a light until we get the bridge back.