West Seattle, Washington
02 Wednesday
11:36 PM: Police and fire are arriving on the Admiral Way hill north of the bridge for a reported two-car head-on collision. One person is reported trapped in one of the cars. Avoid the area. The Admiral exit from the westbound bridge is being blocked off in addition to traffic on the hill, both ways.
11:44 PM: The trapped person has been extricated, firefighters told dispatch.
(Reader photo)
12:12 AM: Police have just described the crash as fatal. (The person who was extricated had been originally described as a woman, unresponsive.) The investigation will likely mean the street will remain closed for a few hours.
1:07 AM: No visual because the scene is inaccessible with the hill blocked off, but the two vehicles were described by police as a silver Camaro – the victim was reported to be in that car – and a blue Toyota 4Runner. No further details from police so far on how many people were in the vehicles; we’re asking SFD whether anyone who survived the crash was treated for injuries.
1:45 AM: Police have just told dispatch that Admiral is reopening, both ways.
7:51 AM SFD says a 34-year-old man was taken to the hospital, in stable condition.
(Added: Photo posted by Jesse in comments)
8:05 AM: Here’s what SPD just posted:
Witnesses called 911 for a head on collision involving two vehicles late Saturday evening.
Police arrived around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Southwest Admiral Way and Southwest City View Street and found the two vehicles in the southbound lanes.
The female driver of the silver Camaro was reported to be driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Southwest Admiral Street when she lost control. The Camaro travelled into the opposite lanes of traffic colliding head on with a blue Toyota 4Runner traveling southbound.
Seattle Fire responded and assisted in removing the 23-year-old female driver from her vehicle. SFD provided life-saving measures, but the female driver succumbed to her injuries sustained from the collision at the scene.
The 34-year-old male driver of the 4Runner sustained non-life-threatening injuries. SFD transported him to Harborview Medical Center for further medical treatment.
TCIS will be lead in the investigation of this case.
12:45 PM: We don’t know the name of the woman who died, but we’ve just received word that the man who survived is a local chef and that friends are crowdfunding for his recovery, which is expected to last months. Candice sent us this note:
The victim of the car crash on Admiral last night was Nick Chiaro, a chef at Driftwood restaurant on Alki. As his friend & coworker, my fiance has set up a GoFundMe for his recovery.
A strong season for West Seattle High School ended tonight in Tacoma. WSHS played a postseason game at Mount Tahoma High School, with a state-tournament berth at stake, but lost 53-14. Head coach Anthony Stordahl‘s team finished the year 6-3.
Going to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow? Before you shop for food, donate some! You’ll see a booth for Farmlink, a nonprofit founded by college students to work on food rescue, food insecurity, farmers’ rights, and related issues nationwide. Farmlink fellow Ariel Cook, who interned at the West Seattle Food Bank last summer, is hosting the booth to benefit WSFB by collecting food donations and inspiring financial donations. Ariel put together this presentation to explain the food-insecurity problem in our city – you can click through it:
Ariel says just about any kind of nonperishable food is welcome – except meat and dairy. Financial donations are welcome via this link. If you can’t donate tomorrow, the Farmlink booth will be back at the market November 19th and December 3rd.
If you’re ready to shift gears into the holiday season, here’s another way to do it – Hope Lutheran School (WSB sponsor) is selling wreaths and garlands:
Get your Holiday Greens! Orders due this Monday, November 6th!
Order your wreaths and garlands today and check that off your Holiday list while benefiting Hope Lutheran School’s East Coast Fundraising committee for 7th- and 8th-grade students.
Order online at: form.jotform.com/232977354905164
Act quick!
The rain that assisted salmon in Longfellow Creek also has brought the first spawners of the season into Fauntleroy Creek. As of mid-afternoon, creek steward Judy Pickens tells us, volunteers had counted five salmon in the creek. You can go have a look from the public fish-ladder viewpoint across the street (and up an embankment) from the ferry dock; plans for a future “open creek” with a closer look will depend on weather and volunteer availability.
3:58 PM: Thanks to Manuel for the quick clip of leaping salmon at Longfellow Creek – he reports, “It’s ideal conditions to watch the salmon jump over a beaver dam at Longfellow Creek by the West Seattle Health Club. The heavy rain helped them.”
P.S. This gives us reason to remind you of this week’s big event – a celebration with information – about Longfellow Creek, 5:30 pm Wednesday (November 8th) at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center (4705 West Marginal Way SW)
4:50 PM: Manuel caught another one on video – an even higher leap!
We mentioned in today’s preview list that West Seattle High School would play Eastside Catholic in the Metro League volleyball semifinals this morning. The Wildcats won the match, 3-0, and that means they will play for the league championship tonight – 7:15 pm in the Chief Sealth IHS gym (2600 SW Thistle). If you want to go cheer them on, ticket info is here.
10:28 AM: On what was already a stormy morning, a band of thunderstorms is moving through. The National Weather Service says there’s a chance of more throughout the day and into the evening. And a wind alert takes effect shortly – from 11 am until 6 pm, the NWS has a Wind Advisory for our area: “Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph expected. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.” If a tree falls and blocks public right-of-way, you can report it to SDOT’s after-hours dispatch, 206-386-1218. (Then please let us know too if you can – 206-293-6302 is our round-the-clock text/voice hotline.)
10:59 AM: If you missed the intense burst of rain – check out Elizabeth‘s brief but dramatic video of a West Seattle stairway becoming a waterfall:
That’s across from the Fauntleroy ferry dock.
11:15 AM: The thundershowers have left behind some major puddling. A texter warns the recurring trouble spot by the Delridge entrance to the bridge has it. Another texter says Admiral/California has some flooding (added: video)
And we received this photo from the midblock crosswalk in The Junction between Oregon and Alaska:
Clogged drains in the street are addressed by Seattle Public Utilities but if there’s one you can safely clear by your home or business, give it a try as they’re likely, pardon the phrase, backed up.
12:19 PM: That’s exactly what the neighbors at the infamous-for-clogging Fauntleroy/Raymond intersection did – Frank sent the photos and report:
The neighbors at Fauntleroy and Raymond banded together and drained Lake FaunRay!
(added) Ryan sent this video of rainwater rushing westbound down Avalon near 35th:
Thanks to everyone for the photos, video, and updates (in comments too) – we’re in a break right now but forecasters say more is on the way.
(Lace-leaf Japanese Maple, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Last day of Daylight Saving Time – here are options for what to do with the hours before we “fall back”! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE GROUP RUN: Get your weekend going with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run, All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.
SCHOOL COURTYARD CLEANUP: Rain or shine, the Chief Sealth International High School Green Team will be working on a courtyard 9 am-6 pm and would love to have help, whatever time you can give. Tools provided; bring your own work gloves. Service hours for students. (2600 SW Thistle)
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: This is the last day that you can admire the community art on display at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), open 10 am-6 pm.
THE BRIDGE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, prospective families can visit this cooperative elementary school. (10300 28th SW)
ALKI BIKE & BOARD DONATION DRIVE: Today is the first day of a donation drive for Treehouse foster youth at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW; WSB sponsor) – go here to see what they’re collecting. Donation dropoffs during store hours – today, that’s 10 am-6 pm.
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART & HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW: The first big art show/sale of the 2023 holiday-gift-shopping season! Second day, 10 am-4 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) – our calendar listing includes the artist lineup. Here’s some of what we saw on day 1.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Fall is planting season, and you can shop for student-raised plants at the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) Garden Center, open 10 am-2 pm on the north end of campus.
VOLLEYBALL: West Seattle High School plays in the Metro League tournament today, starting with a 10:15 am semifinal match against Eastside Catholic in the Denny International Middle School (2701 SW Kenyon) gym. Depending on the outcome, WSHS will play again at either 5 or 7:15 pm in the Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) gym.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Learn about Marco’s music here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
COOPER ARTISTS’ HOLIDAY SALE: Shop arts and crafts by the artists who live in the Cooper Artist Housing at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), noon-5 pm.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
TILDEN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm, independent K-5 Tilden School (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) welcomes prospective families.
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 1 pm, independent Explorer West Middle School (10015 28th SW; WSB sponsor) will have faculty, students, and families for you to talk with, along with classroom visits.
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, with student-produced wines available. North end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
WSHS PTSA AUCTION: Just a reminder if you have tickets, as they’re no longer on sale – 6-9 pm at Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota).
BURGERS & BEATS: Saturday night food and music at Revelry Room – burgers start at 6, DJs at 9. (4547 California SW, alley side)
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
FOOTBALL: WSHS plays a postseason game against/at Mount Tahoma, 7 pm (4634 S. 74th, Tacoma). Winner goes to state.
‘GREAT NIGHT’: Saturday night program for young adults 18+ to hang out 7 pm-midnight, at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle).
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS: At 2 am tonight (Sunday morning), we “fall back” an hour into Standard Time – until March 10, 2024.
Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, Halloween or holiday-season happening, or ? If the community’s invited, get your event on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Screengrab from SDOT camera)
2:08 AM: Police are at the scene of a two-car crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge offramp to 99. One car flipped. They don’t know who was driving either car because everybody got out and left in another vehicle. The two were racing, according to at least one 911 caller. One car is a white 2016 Kia Soul, not (yet) reported stolen (police are going to the Alki address where it’s registered to see); the other was only described as a rental with Florida plates and extensive ignition damage. Tow trucks have been called for both. Until they’re cleared, the ramp is inaccessible.
2:31 AM: The officer who went to check with the Soul’s owner just reported back to dispatch that it was indeed a not-yet-reported stolen car. (It’s the car that flipped.)
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