UPDATE: Emergency response at Lincoln Park after SUV abandoned in water

7:10 AM: SPD and SFD are on the north shore of Lincoln Park for what’s described as a vehicle in the water – but they have deduced that no one is in the vehicle, nor in the water nearby. One texter describes the vehicle as a “white SUV” (added: and says it’s actually on the beach, not submerged). We’re on our way to find out more.

7:32 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo. Our photographer, walking into the park from the Lowman Beach end, has talked with one officer at the park who says a tow crew is on the way. The tide is receding; next low tide is at 11:31 am. (added) The next photo, sent by Greg Dirks, shows where on the north shore this happened:

7:48 AM: Unlike last weekend’s car-in-water off Alki, this one is getting towed out quickly – our photographer has arrived and says they’re there now.

Police tell us they don’t know yet whether the vehicle (described as a GMC Acadia) is stolen and they also haven’t figured out which way it was driven there, from the south entrance or north entrance – we’re looking and don’t see any obvious tracks or damage hinting at that.

ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Stephen Nielsen sent this photo of the SUV after it was pulled off the beach.

We hope to be able to find out Monday if police ever confirmed whether the SUV was stolen.

ADDED MONDAY: Police told us today they were unable to confirm whether it was stolen – at least, it hadn’t been reported stolen before turning up in the park. The incident summary says it was registered to someone in Kent: “Kent Police attempted to speak with the registered owner but were unable to reach him by phone.”

Alki resident March 23, 2024 (7:30 am)

That explains the strange location log on realtime911. I hope everyone is safe and accounted for. Hopefully a stolen car versus a tragic situation.

WSB March 23, 2024 (8:02 am)

Yes, the whole latitude/longitude designations even broke RT911 for a while this past hour. Lincoln Park addresses on emergency calls are usually problematic anyway – the official park address is 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW but that’s really more mid-park, and Colman Pool’s official address is 8603 Fauntleroy ….
- Alki resident March 23, 2024 (10:07 am)
  
  I’m glad they have this system in place because one single address for the entire park doesn’t make sense.

WSlite March 23, 2024 (7:57 am)

Thinking this is someone joy riding in possibly a stolen car. Is it now a mission for people to get cars into the water…? Is there a bet going on between these hooligans? Alki then Lincoln Park. Geez! Our poor marine life. Hope this driver is caught and charged. Seems more and more idiots are in this world being reckless and do not care about our environment and community members.

Marty March 23, 2024 (9:08 am)

It is also possible that the vehicle could have entered the park somewhere besides the north or south entrance. There is a road from the upper park that goes all the way to the beach, just south of the pool.

Terri March 23, 2024 (9:16 am)

Around 9 am they were getting little closer to lifting it off beach.

Also John March 23, 2024 (2:06 pm)

Apparently it’s not illegal to walk your dog on the beach…..even in front of police?! The accident should make no difference.
- Neighbor March 23, 2024 (2:54 pm)
  
  Ummmm…there’s literally a tow truck and other vehicles blocking the walking path. What do you expect them to do in this situation?
- Amy March 23, 2024 (6:59 pm)
  
  Get over yourself.

AT March 23, 2024 (9:42 am)

Flipping cars was overdone, cars in the water are the new flipped cars.

drahcir61 March 23, 2024 (9:48 am)

This could be an interesting fishing tale … stole an suv, decided to go fishing but just like the judicial system, it ended with a catch-and-release. (c’mon someone had to go there!!!)

Brian Feusagach March 23, 2024 (9:56 am)

Hmmmm … has the West Seattle phenomenon of “car on its side” now been replaced with “car in the water”?

Rhonda March 23, 2024 (10:53 am)

The question I have is how did it get passed the south barrier poles and huge rocks or the north barrier poles to gain access to the beach? I spend a great deal of time at Lincoln Park running from the south poles to Lowman Park and back and as long as the poles aren’t removed by park personnel I don’t see how they could’ve bypassed them. Could they have driven along the beach from outside Lincoln Park from another beach access point during low tide?

Curious George March 23, 2024 (1:11 pm)

You’ve answered your own question. “If” the barrier poles are in place or locked which any bolt cutter could cut.
- Rhonda March 23, 2024 (2:39 pm)
  
  Curious George, yes, but the other problem is that there’s no way to get a low-ground-clearance SUV like an Acadia off of the 4 to 5-foot sea wall that stretches from the north poles to the Coleman Pool. It would have to be tumbled off but the vehicle doesn’t appear the have been rolled due to the lack of broken windows. From the pool to the South poles there’s a constant stream of giant logs that I couldn’t get over in my high-ground-clearance SUV. There’s also no break in the log berm wide enough for an Acadia.
  - Neighbor March 23, 2024 (8:29 pm)
    
    Rhonda the first photo shows the roof of the car covered in what could be mud. The sunroof looks broken. The passenger side window is either down or broken. The roof looks partially collapsed. The side of the car is covered in dents. It definitely looks like it could have rolled and ended upright.
    - Rhonda March 24, 2024 (12:19 am)
      
      Neighbor, “they also haven’t figured out which way it was driven there, from the south entrance or north entrance – we’re looking and don’t see any obvious tracks or damage hinting at that”
    - Rick March 26, 2024 (8:55 am)
      
      I lived on Wright Ave. that dead ended into the north end of the park and with my little 4wd Ranger access was no issue. But only when it snowed. And I was young and foolish. Now I’m just foolish.
Ex-Westwood Resident March 23, 2024 (3:10 pm)

Ever hear of the old adage “Locks only keep honest people honest.”?

Odd son March 23, 2024 (1:21 pm)

Never a dull moment.

1994 March 23, 2024 (11:02 pm)

I look forward to the next post on this mystery. Surely the care was stolen.

SeaWalk March 24, 2024 (8:04 am)

This is so distinctively Seattle. An SUV parked in the sound, yet we ban plastic straws and block pickle ball courts in our parks. We claim to be the “emerald” city despite sewage spills in the sound, algae blooms in the lake, piles of trash on the highways & days of smog and air pollution.

Jort March 25, 2024 (1:13 pm)

That is correct. Additionally, if this had been an RV used by homeless people rather than an SUV, then I suspect that Bruce Harrell would be on TV every minute asking for a mobilization of the National Guard in response, and this comment thread would not be so lighthearted and sparse.

Bob March 24, 2024 (7:36 pm)

We took a walk in the park this morning and found a bollard removed at the south entrance. I did not measure this opening, but it seemed wide enough to get a car through. There were no park vehicles operating on the waterfront at this time, which we wouldn’t have expected on a Sunday. There was two very large stockpiles of beauty bark/heavy mulch at the Troll. These were stockpiled recently and will likely be spread around the bare ground surrounding the troll. It is possible the south entrance was left open for delivery of this material, possibly by a private company. But the opening did not seem wide enough for a large truck.

Sorry, comment time is over.