About the emergency response at South Delridge bus stop

| Delridge | West Seattle news

(Framegrab from traffic camera, with NB Delridge/Henderson stop at right)

We had a question about a Burien Police car with what looked like a body at Delridge/Henderson, so in case you passed by and wondered too, here’s what happened: SFD originally responded just after 7 pm to a report of an unconscious man at the northbound bus stop there, with drug paraphernalia nearby. Recorded radio exchanges detail how they tried to revive him, but could not. Burien PD responded because they’re part of the King County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction for Metro transit facilities (and buses). The man who died was estimated to be in his mid-30s; the King County Medical Examiner’s Office will make the official determination of why he died. (Public Health – Seattle & King County tracks drug-overdose and alcohol-poisoning deaths here; so far this year, 306 deaths are confirmed in the county, another 37 suspected pending toxicology results. If that rate continued all year, the 2024 total would be close to the 2023 total, 1,338.)

Lauren April 10, 2024 (9:11 pm)

Heartbreaking

937 April 10, 2024 (9:54 pm)

Dead people at bus stops.

THIS is peak compassion

diddler April 11, 2024 (7:49 am)

Preach
Bbron April 11, 2024 (9:51 am)

I’ll bite: what would you like to see as a compassionate response to this housing, mental health, and opioid crisis?
- 937 April 11, 2024 (1:03 pm)
  
  Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Because the government you voted for pretends dead people at bus stops is just fine.
  
  We are living in the darkest ages.
  - Burgwrman April 12, 2024 (6:35 am)
    
    937, the government YOU want jails drug users, makes fun of people with mental health and developmental challenges, and doesn’t want to fund things like mental health care, or even health care for all. Hell, they want to take AWAY people’s health care, which by the way includes addiction treatment.
    - 937 April 12, 2024 (1:10 pm)
      
      No no no… This poster is a perfect exemplification of the issue at hand ASSuming my politics… JUST because I don’t want my kids or their kids (or YOUR kids dear reader) to be traumatized by a dead person at a bus stop – or anywhere.
      
      But the Seattle Voter (TM) and maybe “Burgwrman” is one of them – who votes in what they feel is a “compassionate way” – but in reality is enabling abject squalor and filth. Disease and death. broken bodies and broken homes. How is that working out? Dead people at bus stops – trafficked women and children. The person living ONLY for the next hit of fenty.. All in the name of “compassion”.
      
      Burgwrman – what is your definition of compassion??
    - Burgwrman April 15, 2024 (8:01 pm)
      
      You support Donald Trump for President, bro. I’m not assuming anything incorrect. YOU chose to let the world here know you support that walking zombie swamp creature. That’s unconscionable and any respect anyone could have for you is immediately erased because of what your support for him implies is ok.
  - Bbron April 14, 2024 (10:51 pm)
    
    honestly I pity a person who feels morally superior thinking the solution is doing nothing or jailing vulnerable folks. it’s such an uncreative, myopic view to have. life can be so much more being collaborative and supporting your fellow human, but the brain rot from individualism is too apparent. I truly am sorry you think this way, 937
- Jeff April 11, 2024 (1:39 pm)
  
  Build and staff shelters with funds already dedicated to homelessness, then require people to either go there or go to jail. No step three. I know there is a lot of addiction, I know it’s a complicated situation. I’m just past believing that what we’re doing is helping even a small amount. A trash heap under an overpass is not a suitable home for anyone under any circumstances. Time for something new.
  - Jenava Sexton April 12, 2024 (1:23 am)
    
    I like your list, and agree with your sentiment about trash heaps. I’d add mental health facilities as an option because realistically it’s the emergency room right now and that isn’t where it’s at, IYKWIM.

Rockabilly April 11, 2024 (3:47 am)

The sfd and ambulances responded very quickly and we’re screaming up delridge and we’re performing life saving measures. The effort they had to save a life was amazing yet to hear that the victim had died is a sad story… Seattle and the greater area have been plagued by this poison far too long, street fentanyl is straight up poison and anyone that’s selling or distributing this nasty stuff needs to be arrested and held accountable. The importing of this deliberate poison to our country is an attrocity and is a direct attack from china and mexico to destabilize America’s economy and quality of life/ gross national happiness

flimflam April 11, 2024 (6:48 pm)

@Rockabilly – I agree. The nonsense that drug abuse is a victimless crime is appalling. Besides the user themselves and associated crime, there are countless victims in Mexico from cartel rule. The US is COMPLETELY complicit in keeping the cartels strong and profitable. I’d be interested to watch a conversation about “victimless crime” with a small city in Mexico under cartel rule.

crow April 11, 2024 (8:01 am)

So sad. Poor guy :(

Not quite right or left April 11, 2024 (8:54 am)

I live on the same block. The north and south bound stations at that intersection are party central for drugs and other nefarious behavior all day and night. Sometimes they dip in to my walkway to use or rest. Seattle doesn’t seem to care about them or the people that live here. This area (and city) could be world class and highly livable if the greed ever gets weeded out.

Big Bling April 11, 2024 (5:00 pm)

Very sad. And yet as of now, only 8 comments. Yet for the Ice Cream Shoppe going in, 160 comments. Way to go WS. Love the compassion. And no easy answers here, but compassion and grace would go a long way.

K April 11, 2024 (7:45 pm)

In Washington, if your insurance doesn’t cover Naloxone (Narcan), you can get it for free through distribution centers throughout the state. Get free training on how to spot an overdose and save a life using Naloxone on the DOH website. Links to how to get Naloxone at no cost on the same page. Learn the signs of overdose, save a life! https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/drug-user-health/overdose-education-naloxone-distribution

Why April 12, 2024 (12:55 am)

People dying of fentanyl are not all (or even mostly) homeless, so let’s stop pretending this is a problem of the “other.” It could be you, or someone in your family. Homelessness, apathy, addiction, etc are all a piece of a huge economic dysfunction, but in the interim, please, people, test your drugs! Also, as K mentions above, get a stash of Narcan, and use it if needed!

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