READER REPORTS: Stolen work van, found trailer, hit-run info sought

| Gatewood | West Seattle news | Westwood

Three reader reports this morning:

STOLEN VAN: Sent by Greg:

Reporting that my van was stolen last night from our home in the Gatewood area about 9:00 pm in case someone spots it parked in the area. The van is a white 1998 Ford Econoline 150 with a roof rack, license #C74786Z. The van was filled with carpentry tools. Please contact me at 206-234-6402 if you see it!

FOUND TRAILER: Jo spotted this trailer parked, door open, no one around, items inside:

If it’s yours, let us know – we don’t know if it’s been reported to police yet. (Update: It apparently was stolen from a band – we’ve heard from them and told them where Jo saw it.)

HIT-RUN INFO SOUGHT: Sent by Tracey:

My friend was hit and run on his e-bike yesterday afternoon. Details are sketchy as I took him to urgent care and he hit his head (helmet on). He lives on 32nd and Thistle and was on his way home with groceries from QFC. His groceries were scattered all over the street and he lost his glasses. He said there was a roundabout at the intersection he was hit at. No one stopped to help him recover his belongings. Any information from the community would be supportive. And his glasses remain lost.

KM October 4, 2024 (11:00 am)

Tracy, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. I’m wondering if he was struck at 30th and Thistle based on the description of the intersection. There isn’t a roundabout at that intersection, but 30th has bike markings and pedestrian relief islands, and is on the bike greenway. Not sure if that will help at all, but perhaps revisiting the intersection might help put the pieces together. I wish him a speed recovery and so sorry to hear of the type of violence that seems to be increasing the past few years.

jj October 4, 2024 (1:07 pm)

That’s an excellent suggestion. I was also hit by a driver and nearly killed in SLU. My immediate recollection of the incident was pretty skewed until I actually read the police report and revisited the scene. Really helped to put a lot of pieces back together in my memory.
Adam October 4, 2024 (1:58 pm)

Based off the likely route taken, I wonder if this happened at the roundabout at 30th and Cloverdale? That block gets lots of pass-through traffic. Maybe some park-goers witnessed this, or maybe a home nearby has footage on cam.

HS October 4, 2024 (2:58 pm)

Geez. I hope he recorvers. I walk a lot in the area and my guess is that it’s a roundabout between Henderson (WWV to 34th). It’s less of an incline from WWV to ride up the streets closer to Barton then it’s flat riding north. Cars tend to drive quickly there between the businesses on 35th and other nearby destinations. I’m sorry to hear that no one stopped, this is a friendly neighborhood.

YT October 4, 2024 (3:15 pm)

We don’t know the details regarding this hit and run, but tons of drivers can’t seem to figure out how to use those roundabouts. My bike route to and from work takes me mostly on neighborhood greenways and through several roundabouts. At least weekly, I have to swerve or skid to a stop due to drivers going through the roundabouts backwards and almost hitting me. I want to believe these drivers just don’t understand the intersection, but sadly I think the majority are just recklessly trying to save themselves the 1.5 seconds it takes to slow down and drive through the correct way.

HS October 4, 2024 (3:51 pm)

I just took a walk and searched the roundabouts at Cloverdale & 30th, 34th and at Henderson & 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and 34th. Sadly, I didn’t find any glasses. It’s definatley hard to see around 30th & Henderson, due to a lot of shadows that could easily have obsecured a cyclist depending on the time of day.

Tracey October 4, 2024 (4:42 pm)

We have determined that the incident was at 31st and Henderson. Still no glasses. My friend is on the mend after receiving 11 stiches to his hand. Thanks for everyone’s concern and help.

Patrick October 4, 2024 (4:52 pm)

So sorry to hear about this hit and run. I ride my e-bike frequently and so many drivers go through roundabouts incorrectly that I’m always surprised when they do drive past them correctly. It’s just lazy, careless drivers and it’s been a lot worse since the pandemic.

Gary October 4, 2024 (4:55 pm)

The hit and run happened at the intersection of 31st Avenue SW & SW Henderson around 2PM Thursday 10/3. I live nearby and received a note asking for any door or security camera footage of the incident or the car driving away. The note also said the vehicle involved was a small white or light colored car. Unfortunately, I don’t have any cameras to help identify the vehicle involved.

TT October 4, 2024 (7:08 pm)

Would you happen to have a picture of the glasses? I saw a pair sitting on a fence on 30th.

Suzanne October 5, 2024 (4:02 am)

It would probably help Tracey far more if you post a photo of the glasses here. That way he can check with his friend who’s recovering from the hit and run trauma.

Patience October 5, 2024 (8:35 am)

Hope all works out well for your friend and he heals well – both physically and mentally. ### A bit of clarification for folks: these are actually traffic circles, NOT roundabouts.1) At roundabouts, you enter counterclockwise, yield to traffic already in them, and then go. In some cases, if no yield is necessary, you can simply enter. (White Center has one at SW 108th and 8th Ave SW)

2) Traffic circles are used to calm neighborhood intersections.Traffic circles are considered an uncontrolled intersection (I think of it as a 4-way stop, but you don’t need to come to a complete stop). You should enter the intersection counterclockwise at a reduced speed and yield to the car (or pedestrian or bike) to the right if two cars (or a pedestrian or a bike) get there at the same time. ## Cars ARE allowed to go left before the traffic circle if parked cars are too close to the corner on your right OR if your vehicle is oversized (think delivery truck, garbage truck, RV, etc.).## Please be watchful, drive safe, and SLOW DOWN.

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