UPDATE: California reopens after driver hits woman by Rite-Aid

9:25 PM: Police are closing California SW at Brandon for a collision investigation. Updates to come.

9:31 PM: A witness says this was an incident involving a woman walking, hit by a driver, who remained on scene. The witness says the victim was injured but conscious. It’s reported to have happened in front of the Rite-Aid store, which is between Brandon and Dawson.

10:12 PM: Per the SDOT traffic center, the street has reopened. The woman was taken to Harborview; we’re checking with SFD on her condition.

ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: SFD says the woman is 64 years old and was in serious condition when transported.

46 Replies to "UPDATE: California reopens after driver hits woman by Rite-Aid"

  • Gittygrits April 3, 2023 (9:27 pm)

    I am hearing tons of sirens.

  • Fairmount Park Resident April 3, 2023 (9:30 pm)

    They have also closed California at Dawson.  Lots of emergency lights and another ambulance just arrived for the 6 per response.  I just got home and drove up Dawson to park when this happened but didn’t see it.

  • Mandy April 3, 2023 (9:38 pm)

    Is this near Canna West store? I’ve seen so many dangerous drivers near there, trying to get in and out of canna fast, so they flip u turns, leave their car in the turn lane, cut in and out of parking places, no regard for safety of others around them. Isn’t this also the same spot where a person walking on sidewalk  was killed by a driver?

    • WSB April 3, 2023 (9:47 pm)

      No, it’s not. It’s near Rite-Aid – the initial dispatches mentioned Brandon and Dawson; the store is between those two streets on California.

      • Ada April 3, 2023 (10:04 pm)

        There needs to be a light at California and Dawson. That intersection is so dangerous.

        • WSB April 3, 2023 (10:11 pm)

          I don’t know where exactly in the street tonight’s victim was when hit but you might recall that a woman was hit and killed in the crosswalk there some years back.

          • WSB April 3, 2023 (10:59 pm)

            The witness with whom we spoke says the victim was in the street south of the crosswalk. I don’t have further info from police or SFD at this point but will of course add anything additional that emerges. – TR

          • foop April 4, 2023 (6:32 am)

            I occasionally park on the street there to visit Till Dawn, even with the crosswalk that crossing is dangerous. No one stops for pedestrians, cars drive way too fast, the street is way too wide for the purpose of it, and frankly we should narrow it and reduce the street parking, even if that means I walk an extra block to my coffee, although if California wasn’t such a hostile road I’d more likely bus or bike to those businesses.

          • Sarah April 4, 2023 (7:55 am)

            She was just south of the crosswalk. Possibly making her way from Rite aid. 

          • KM April 4, 2023 (8:00 am)

            I remember this death. I think about it nearly every time I drive in front of Rite Aid, and double-check my speed.

        • Aaron April 3, 2023 (10:20 pm)

          I’d love to see traffic calming measures, like speed humps every block on Fauntleroy and California. Drivers drive way too fast on both roads.

          • HD April 4, 2023 (9:48 am)

            Love the speed hump’s idea! (As I work from home on Fauntleroy listening to traffic in excess of 40+ mph in a 25mph school zone)

          • WestSeattleBadTakes April 4, 2023 (10:52 am)

            Bring on the raised crosswalks.

          • sgs April 4, 2023 (11:22 am)

            How would that impact buses? 

          • Jay April 4, 2023 (11:50 am)

            Bike lanes to tighten the wide lanes up a bit would be good, too. Alaska to Admiral is such a hostile stretch for both cyclists and pedestrians, something big needs to change.

  • Duckie April 3, 2023 (10:21 pm)

    I saw the closure from California and Hudson. I wondered what was going on and checked the WSB, which had the information posted immediately (no surprise, thank you). Lots of police and emergency vehicles blocking both traffic lanes from east to west. Hope both the pedestrian and driver end up ok

  • Marcus April 4, 2023 (4:01 am)

    It is all over the place.  Some people are just driving too fast.  Making aggressive moves and generally the “get out of my way” attitude.  However it is only a small percentage and yet there is a tremendous affect to all.  Road warriors I call them.  This is what happens when there is not enough police to perform traffic patrols.  

  • Sarah April 4, 2023 (7:53 am)

    The woman was taken to Harbor View medical after the collision. She was conscious and breathing and responding to witnesses not to move. Police and ambulances arrived within minutes. Driver stayed and cooperated with authorities. I called the hospital about 45 minutes after the accident and they said she had made it there with no other information given. She had an ID and phone with her, hopefully family has been notified. I will be trying to make sure she is okay today. 

    • WSB April 4, 2023 (8:29 am)

      Thank you. SFD answered my inquiry this morning and the basic info is added above.

      • Sarah April 4, 2023 (8:41 am)

        Thank you

  • WSPK April 4, 2023 (8:06 am)

    At least the driver was a decent enough human being to stop and take responsibility for their actions. Years ago I was involved in a bike/vehicle crash; driver turned left onto Yancy, cutting me off  while I was descending Avalon. Yikes. Thankfully, the driver stopped to help. Sadly that seems to be the exception these days.

  • Builder April 4, 2023 (8:21 am)

    This happened right in front of my building. Collision happened about 200 feet down from the crosswalk. Unfortunately many people including myself on occasion just hop across the street at any time of day to not walk down past the end of the block to use the crosswalk. Folks rarely stop down there on that awkward Dawson st crosswalk. This stretch of the street on California is also not lit or illuminated properly by any means. I have a hard time believing this was just a reckless driver at fault. Most likely in my mind.. Case of pedestrian crossing, not seeing a car, car doesn’t see her and unfortunately the come in contact with eachother. I have no other details about the incident. Just want people to know that people literally jump and dodge traffic over here all the time. Could happen to anyone. I hope and pray this woman who was injured survives and recovers and that everyone
    finds some kind of peace. Just awful, awful to see these things happen.

    • WS Res April 4, 2023 (11:15 am)

      I agree that stretch of road is VERY dark. I live nearby and Dawson is often where I turn left to go south on California, and at night it’s pretty difficult to see.

    • Fairmount Park Resident April 4, 2023 (2:47 pm)

      I agree.  It is SUCH a dangerous crosswalk.  I also live right near it and use it often.  I was hit while crossing to Rite-Aid during the day (obviously well lit then) and the driver just drove off.  One person slowed to ask if I was okay but then drove off as well. It was right in the beginning of the pandemic so I couldn’t get my injuries (sprained ankle, torn MCL and meniscus) looked at for weeks, let alone operated on as it was “not medically necessary” since I could move around on crutches.Still have to go down stairs a little weird from the wonky healing and still get anxious if I have to cross it to get my random crap from Rite-Aid because it’s so conveniently close.I hope the patient makes a full recovery and that the driver is also able to deal with the aftermath in a healthy way.

    • Seattlite April 4, 2023 (3:24 pm)

      I hope the victim has a swift, full recovery. Builder:  Thanks for pointing out that both drivers and pedestrians need to take responsibility for their actions.  Drivers  need to go the speed limit.  Pedestrians need to use marked crossings on busy streets.   Crossing from corner to corner on streets that are not busy is less risk.  Jay walking on busy streets or any streets is extremely risky.   

  • Nicole April 4, 2023 (8:29 am)

    WSB – do you know how we petition SDOT for improving the crosswalk at that intersection? I’ve almost been hit several times. Once, even when the car closest to the crosswalk stops, cars behind them have gone around the stopped car to keep going on California, almost hitting me in the marked crosswalk. It would be great to have a flashing signal (not the kind currently above the street, but those bright ones on street signs on the side) so it’s easier for cars to know that someone is crossing the street.

  • Pamela April 4, 2023 (8:33 am)

    So sad for the driver and the woman hit.  I wish people would use the marked crosswalks.  Instead of speedbumps perhaps more of those light up crosswalks like they installed on Admiral and 49th.  

    • Sarah April 4, 2023 (8:40 am)

      A light up crosswalk would be very helpful on this intersection. People speed thru with no regard for pedestrians. 

    • Tony April 4, 2023 (3:03 pm)

      Marked crosswalks with activating lights do nothing. Drivers still blow through them without any concern to the pedestrians trying to use them. 

  • Anne April 4, 2023 (9:07 am)

    More lighting would  surely help after dark.  I too have seen people darting out between cars to cross-not going to corner or the crosswalk. Have also seen cars going too fast as well. Maybe speed bumps or have the crosswalk there raised like in junction. 

  • snowskier April 4, 2023 (9:07 am)

    No speedbumps or other calming devices please, it’s an arterial meant to handle larger traffic volumes.  Better lighting on the crosswalk would help.  I feel sorry for both parties but as a driver, if someone jumps out midblock on a dark night instead of using a nearby crosswalk, there’s not much you can do.

    • Joe Z April 4, 2023 (10:27 am)

      Ok, if it’s an arterial, then the parking needs to be removed to facilitate traffic movement and better pedestrian visibility. 

    • Jon Wright April 4, 2023 (11:22 am)

      You can drive the speed limit so your car doesn’t kill them.

  • Also John April 4, 2023 (11:30 am)

    The crosswalk there is risky.  Most people won’t stop for you.   

    • anonyme April 4, 2023 (12:41 pm)

      That’s the truth.  As a pedestrian, I have had several near-death experiences in that crosswalk while trying to make a safe, cautious, and legal crossing – during broad daylight.  Enough with the excuses for crappy, dangerous driving.

  • Maura NíConnell April 4, 2023 (11:45 am)

    I have fallen on the crappy uneven sidewalk directly across the street from that Rite-Aid. I have fallen on the crappy sidewalk at the bus stop in front of Rite-Aid. I hate going to that particular location and am requesting my medications be available at the Westwood Village Rite-Aid. Yeah, it’s annoying because I only live a few blocks south of the Dawson Street Rite-Aid but it’s not worth the falls or potentially something worse. I hope that woman is okay. Thank you, driver, for staying on the scene. A very scary scenario for certain!

  • Too Many Assumptions April 4, 2023 (11:47 am)

    Assumptions are dangerous. There are too many comments putting the blame on the driver without actually knowing the situation. Assigning blame is less important than the people involved. Consider the physical state of the pedestrian and mental state of the driver. No one wins. Adding baseless comments is unfair and perpetrates anger rather than compassion for those involved. Positive comments will make our world brighter and bring us closer together.

    • Derek April 5, 2023 (8:45 am)

      One is in a giant piece of metal that can seriously injure a person. The other is just a person walking. The blame is ALWAYS on the vehicle operator.  Facts don’t care about feelings, and those are the facts. Plus it’s the law.

      • Oh Seattle April 5, 2023 (10:14 am)

        “The blame is ALWAYS on the vehicle operator” is not a fact.  I was stopped at a red light and after it turned green a lady ran out from between two parked vehicles in front of my car.  Luckily, I had just started to move forward so I was able to stop  without hitting her.  She proceeded to run into the other lane of traffic and other drivers also were able to avoid hitting her.  This is not the only time I’ve seen this happen and the blame is very clearly on the pedestrian who runs into traffic.

      • snowskier April 5, 2023 (11:07 am)

        You couldn’t be more wrong about the blame always being on the vehicle operator.  If you’re driving 25 mph down the street and someone darts from between two parked cars to cross midblock at night there is nothing you can do to avoid a collision aside from having the magical power of future sight.  You can hit the brakes, stop and check on the individual and call for assistance but the pedestrian is the one who caused the accident.  Both parties need to be aware of a situation and work to actively stop it from occurring in the first place.  I hope both people recover from this unfortunate situation. 

  • BookGal April 4, 2023 (1:50 pm)

    As a pedestrian. I have witnessed more drivers stopping for jaywalkers than for pedestrians crossing streets legally (in marked or unmarked crosswalks) at California/Dawson and at Fauntleroy/Juneau.
    The sidewalks and crosswalk at California Ave SW and SW Dawson St. have very poor southbound sight lines due to the tree and are poorly lit. Perhaps better lighting on both sidewalks and a pedestrian activated “flashing” or warning light would be an improvement (but not so bright as to blind the apartment dwellers)?
    I think there is an improved pedestrian crosswalk with warning/flashing light north of The Junction on California Ave SW which is very visible and may be a viable solution for pedestrians crossing legally. 

  • Ames April 4, 2023 (4:42 pm)

    I hope the woman is doing all right. This is an incredibly dangerous crosswalk any time of day. I can’t tell you how often I have to wait and flag down cars to stop to safely cross. What are we going to do to make safe for sidewalks crosswalks for pedestrians in West Seattle?

  • Neighbor April 4, 2023 (9:28 pm)

    @WSB, when the person was killed near C&P what process was activated to get those new traffic calming measures in place? Given the comments on this thread it appears lots of folks want an action to be able to incidents a need area for city road safety planners.

    • WSB April 5, 2023 (12:05 am)

      IIRC, neighbors commented that they’d been talking to SDOT for a long time about improving California/Findlay. That, and SDOT has said that after a major incident, they revisit the area to see if anything more needs to be done.

  • sam-c April 7, 2023 (3:28 pm)

    Is there any word on how the pedestrian is doing ?    

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