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FOLLOWUP: Car removed from water off Duwamish Head, 34 hours after crash

March 17, 2024 10:33 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Thanks to Lynn Hall for the photos! The car that went into Elliott Bay off Duwamish Head very early Saturday morning has just been pulled out, after this tow crew showed up.

They had police assistance on the water side:

And the flatbed will take it away:

The car was fully visible on the beach at low tide Saturday evening, as shown in photos added to our original coverage. We’ll be following up with police tomorrow on the status of the driver, a man in his early 20s who was not seriously hurt, and with Seattle Parks on whether any seawall/beach damage will need repairs.

ADDED MONDAY: SPD confirmed today that the driver was arrested for investigation of DUI.

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17 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Car removed from water off Duwamish Head, 34 hours after crash"

  • Japeed Singh March 17, 2024 (11:47 am)

    Any word on if the driver was cited for reckless driving and/or speeding? Was the driver under the influence by chance? Also I wonder if he will be held accountable for any costs related to damages? 

  • Admiral-2009 March 17, 2024 (11:56 am)

    I really hope that the driver be required to pay all the cost of this incident and clean up!

  • SeaWalk March 17, 2024 (12:19 pm)

    To all who are running, walking and cycling today in WS, thank you! It was great seeing so many this morning. Stay safe and have fun.

  • T Anderson March 17, 2024 (1:34 pm)

    Thankfully the out of control driver didn’t hit me and my dog trying to cross at the nearby crosswalk. Racing and reckless driving and racing continues unabated on Alki and Harbor Aves.

  • Steve March 17, 2024 (2:43 pm)

    Check the carfax when buying one of those!

  • Jim P. March 17, 2024 (2:58 pm)

    I see no indication of any sort of barrier or railing.  Am I missing something or is this a Darwinian way to weed out drunk drivers on foggy nights?

    • CarDriver March 18, 2024 (4:42 pm)

      Jim P.  @25 years ago there was a city official that suggested a railing was needed to protect people from falling off. Logic (and cost) prevailed. Unless you deliberately walk over to stand on the edge there really isn’t a need to protect Darwinian moves. And, a speeding car would most likely go through any fencing that was put up anyway.

  • tedb310 March 17, 2024 (4:39 pm)

    So I’m no expert on any of this, but wouldn’t have been easier to do this at low tide when the car was just on a beach instead of underwater?

  • Runner March 17, 2024 (5:43 pm)

    So lucky that no one walking along Alki was hit and seriously injured or killed. Something needs to be done to protect the pedestrians from the idiot drivers that cruse and race on Alki. 

  • Thomas March 17, 2024 (6:20 pm)

    Explain that tow bill to your insurance company

  • Simpson March 17, 2024 (7:31 pm)

    Very scary. Drugs or alcohol involved?

  • John Smith March 17, 2024 (8:59 pm)

    Was the driver charged with a crime? Reckless driving? Ticketed for his excessive speed? Under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol? He needs to be held accountable for his criminal behavior which could have easily severely injured or even worse killed pedestrians on that walking path or other drivers nearby. And fined for damages to the property, potentially chemical leaks into Elliott bay and any cost associated with removing his vehicle from the water. Glad nobody was hurt or killed in this preventable incident! 

  • Alki Jack March 18, 2024 (7:22 am)

    Runner, how about the police giving out some tickets once in a while. There has been little no police enforcement for years on Alki and Harbor Avenues and the drivers that cruise and race have little or no fear of being pulled over.

  • WSB March 18, 2024 (1:17 pm)

    Finally got SPD confirmation that the driver was indeed arrested for investigation of DUI.

    • CarDriver March 18, 2024 (1:54 pm)

      Residents. WSB confirmed it was indeed a DUI. NO AMOUNT of cameras or speed bumps/humps will stop them.  REAL consequences for not only those that drive impaired but REAL consequences for those that sell or over serve them must be demanded. 

  • DRW March 18, 2024 (5:36 pm)

    I know SPD is short staffed but if they could spare a few motorcycle officers to hide out between parked cars along Alki Ave and Harbor Dr on the weekends it would be like Herschel the sea lion at the locks.

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