UPDATE: Crash, investigation closes 35th between Alaska and Avalon for an hour

6:02 PM: Police have told dispatch that 35th SW northbound is closed between Alaska and Avalon. A two-vehicle collision is involved but some kind of police response preceded the crash – we’re working to find out more.

6:10 PM: Thanks to Jason for the photo above. More than two vehicles appear to be involved. We’re heading to the scene to try to find out more.

(WSB photo)

6:26 PM: The juvenile driver of the black car that hit the tree is being taken to the precinct for questioning. Police at the scene told our crew that he was driving recklessly, speeding, downhill on 35th before hitting other cars. The car was not stolen. However, just after our crew left the scene, an officer told dispatch that this car matches the description of the one in which the Westwood GameStop robbery suspects are believed to have gotten away in, so they’ll be investigating that. No injuries reported at the crash scene.

7:11 PM: Police are reopening the street; the black car is being towed to SPD’s evidence-processing facility.

Kathy Weitz March 12, 2023 (6:12 pm)

We were walking by there when the crash happened and it looked like it was at least 4 cars involved.

WSB March 12, 2023 (6:17 pm)

Yeah, added a photo (thanks to Jason) and looked like 2 was an underestimate. Still working to find out more.

Doug March 12, 2023 (6:16 pm)

Watched SPD take the occupants out of the black car at gun point.

Barvilhob March 12, 2023 (6:18 pm)

Crazy how there’s so many cops for this accident
- bill March 12, 2023 (8:55 pm)
  
  Super excessive speed and reckless (but not wreckless) driving on wet pavement. This was a deliberate, not an accident.
- Michael March 13, 2023 (10:17 am)
  
  Well was a robbery suspect and the more cops the merrier!!!

Damian March 12, 2023 (6:33 pm)

I did not see guns… not sure what that poster is talking about. I also walked by waiting for the bus.

JunctionResident March 12, 2023 (7:03 pm)

I can confirm the cops had their guns pulled out when approaching the vehicle that hit the tree

eastvashon March 12, 2023 (6:34 pm)

25mph zone – road diet on this stretch was canceled.

Chemist March 12, 2023 (7:08 pm)

The 35th SW rechannelization option was to make Edmunds to Roxbury all 4 to 3 with a center turn lane. Another option was to have peak hour parking restrictions up until Edmunds. Nothing quite as far as Alaska or Avalon though.

Krs March 12, 2023 (6:46 pm)

We were on 35th waiting to turn on Alaska and saw this car whiz by at super high speed so much that they caught air! Totally could have killed ppl. I hope his punk a** has a long stay in JV and if he was involved at Game Stop hold up throw the book at him. You do the crime you do the time. No more free passes

KP March 12, 2023 (7:04 pm)

Preach.
Derek March 12, 2023 (7:27 pm)

We literally don’t know what this is about and people already want jail time for kids. Ridiculous.
- Flo B March 12, 2023 (8:37 pm)
  
  Derek. So you believe anyone under 18 that commits a crime should never go to jail but instead be released? What would you say to a victim of their follow on crimes??
  - Neighbor March 13, 2023 (9:15 am)
    
    Derek is lamenting the jump to punishment without knowing all the facts. Not that there be any punishment at all. Derek is abrasive but not unreasonable.
    - Flo B March 13, 2023 (9:58 am)
      
      Neighbor. So, you don’t believe the threat of (and actual) REAL consequences for criminal actions regardless of their age is a good deterrent??? Why?
- Question Authority March 12, 2023 (9:31 pm)
  
  If you had read more about what the Police had to say about the car and it’s potential use in an armed robbery it still wouldn’t matter to you. Using a gun to rob and then driving recklessly sounds like a well deserved trip to jail even for misguided youth.
- Rhonda March 12, 2023 (9:56 pm)
  
  Derek, “kids” (teens just under 18) who commit violent, adult crimes belong behind bars. Some of the most-dangerous criminals we arrest are under age 18.
BlairJ March 13, 2023 (11:42 am)

Juvenile logic: We used this car to commit a crime, so now drive like a criminal.

Kiki d March 12, 2023 (6:55 pm)

They police took out tasers not guns. i was viewing directly above this in my window. they also retrieved a paper bag containing money from the car that hit the tree.

G March 12, 2023 (8:48 pm)

Not true. Was driving by, South bound on 35th as the whole thing was going down, there were multiple guns drawn. One officer with an AR-15 held at low ready and at least two others with handguns drawn. I was maybe 20 feet away. Could see it all clear as day.
- kiki d March 12, 2023 (10:21 pm)
  
  Ah, perhaps they were behind the first two officers on the scene. There was quite a sprawl back on 35th after the first officer got the driver out. I was focused on the two police that were getting the driver and passenger (both super young) out of the car. i didn’t realize the supporting police that arrived drew weapons. So shocked no one was injured.

ER March 12, 2023 (9:31 pm)

Cop stopped at my house 1:15pm to review my ring. This car drove past at 12:28pm, but he thought the car had front bumper damage and it did not appear to have any. I mentioned those are distinctive wheels. It’s the same car.

Neighbor March 13, 2023 (9:17 am)

Those look like stock Ford wheels.

T Rex March 13, 2023 (8:52 am)

Read the entire story.The car was not stolen. However, just after our crew left the scene, an officer told dispatch that this car matches the description of the one in which the Westwood GameStop robbery suspects are believed to have gotten away in, so they’ll be investigating that. Damn right their guns were drawn.

ACG March 13, 2023 (1:28 pm)

Yikes! I didn’t realize the GameStop robbery was an armed robbery. That makes more sense that the officers would have their weapons drawn when approaching the vehicle with a possible armed robber in it. So thankful no one was hurt at GameStop or the crash scene.

TM March 13, 2023 (1:10 pm)

Hi all! My daughters and I were in the white van hunkered down in the middle of all of this. The car that hit the tree missed us by a foot. The driver was belligerent with the officer. Real guns were drawn. I’m happy that no one was hurt.

Jerry Berger March 13, 2023 (1:35 pm)

We should have no tolerance for people putting innocent lives at risk regardless of the perpetrator’s age.

Leon Jackson March 13, 2023 (2:51 pm)

Thank you SPD. Appreciate ya!

Adrienne March 13, 2023 (4:04 pm)

Holding people accountable is different from just incarcerating them. Prison only rarely makes people “better” and in those rare cases it is the individual and not the institution that drives the positive change. Prison usually just makes people even more antisocial (and sometimes teaches them how to be even better “criminals.”) Juvenile brains are underdeveloped and jail doesn’t fix that; there are proven models for holding youth offenders accountable while fostering responsibility and social development….. it takes a village.

Krs March 13, 2023 (8:04 pm)

Adrienne are they your kids? Stop giving kids a free pass and a hug. You do the crime that could have killed many innocent people and you want to be fa la la. The kids are criminals in the making and need to be taught a hard lesson.
WS Guy March 14, 2023 (10:28 am)

Jail separates them from law abiding citizens so we can live in peace. That’s good enough.

David March 13, 2023 (7:30 pm)

“some kind of police response preceded the crash”
I’m really curious whether this means it was a chase, they were already at the crash site for other reasons, or something else.

WSB March 13, 2023 (7:56 pm)

I haven’t been able to pursue further details yet, planning to do that tomorrow. At the scene, they told us it was not a pursuit, and listening again to archive audio would seem to underscore that, but something brought it all to officers’ attention faster than just someone calling in a crash.
- Alex March 13, 2023 (10:39 pm)
  
  I was stopped at the light as the accident happened directly behind me. There were definitely flashing lights and a siren before the crash. I know because I had a moment to wonder “where are they coming from?” right before hearing the impact. There seemed to be some degree of pursuit.

Sorry, comment time is over.