UPDATE: Another collision near southwest end of West Seattle Bridge

10:39 PM: Police are dealing with another crash toward the Fauntleroy Way end of the West Seattle Bridge right now. Police are reporting the barrier pushed out of alignment again – we’re not sure which side the crash happened on, but the barrier is reported to be a hazard on the eastbound side. The vehicle reported to be involved was described as a Ford Ranger. No injuries reported, as SFD has not been dispatched.

(Image posted by commenter SeaKev)

10:58 PM: If you’re using that end of the bridge any time soon, note that there are short shutdowns as they reset the barrier (again).

11:25 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that all lanes are now open.

SeaKev January 5, 2025 (10:50 pm)

Capture from the scene about 10 minutes ago

WSB January 5, 2025 (10:57 pm)

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Thank you.

Wasa January 5, 2025 (10:56 pm)

The truck is blocking the left lane, it’s the infamous spot near the sign with the metal figures, where the grooved payment transitions to smooth

Erik January 6, 2025 (8:38 am)

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Every time. It doesn’t take much to lose control as soon as that stretch of the road gets wet.

Josh January 5, 2025 (11:02 pm)

It’s ALWAYS RWD vehicles going too fast. There are caution signs that the majority of people ignore.

Steve January 5, 2025 (11:25 pm)

Those curves need better signage. I’m sure flashing lights are out the question due to some NIMBY but at the very least put a mandatory speed limit there with bigger speed limit signs and warning signs. Or just continue with automobile-Darwinism costing everyone else repairs and delays. Resurfacing the old section may be cheaper too.

Jim January 6, 2025 (12:25 am)

People need to take it easy on the road! I was just thinking earlier how thick this misty fog is and people need to be careful

WSResident January 6, 2025 (7:58 am)

I saw a car in front of me slide the other day at this exact corner (how many accidents have we now had here?). They DID NOT drive too fast. The road transitioning to smooth surface is the problem, it’s poorly designed. It doesn’t work for wet weather, not on that side of the curve. I don’t get why the city doesn’t just change the surface and put better signs in place. This is an issue every two weeks or at least every month.

Erik January 6, 2025 (8:36 am)

Coffin corner strikes again. That’s at least the 3rd time in 2025.. SDOT needs to replace the pavement around the entire curve. How much money is wasted in emergency response and barrier replacement vs. just solving the underlying problem.

Midi January 6, 2025 (10:21 am)

There is clear signage, unfortunately it’s placed on the right-side of the road (where it should be) but the turn goes to the left so it’s out of a driver’s natural line-of-sight.There is a school of thought that we should expect drivers to slow down. It’s not wrong, but it’s also proven ineffective as the accidents keep happening in the exact same spot.So what can we do? Make the roadway safer, such as extending the part with the grooves to increase traction. You might say “we shouldn’t have to do this, people just need to slow down” – and you’re not wrong, but as I said, it’s not working.

Steve January 6, 2025 (11:43 am)

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The sign is clear as in it’s unobstructed. It’s not clear because the message is lost because how it’s communicating is not clear. Like trying to talk to someone with their back turned to you. It’s not clear.The resurfacing is a patchwork. High traction to low traction to high traction to low traction to…

Lagartija Nick January 6, 2025 (12:28 pm)

10,000 to 20,000 cars manage to navigate this curve every day without crashing. It’s not the road, it’s speeding.

k January 6, 2025 (6:38 pm)

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50,000 people speed in Seattle every day around curves just like this one, but only seem to be crashing here. The road is a factor.

ITotallyAgreeWithYou January 6, 2025 (3:01 pm)

To those who keep insisting it’s all the drivers fault-you are ignoring the mounds of evidence to the contrary. And not everyone is reporting their experience. There are plenty of examples of known hazards in the world that are not experienced by 100% of people at risk but we make changes because there is enough evidence a hazard exists. Just because you haven’t (yet) experienced the problem, doesn’t mean it’s fake. When it is your turn, I hope you come back and recant your assertions. Why is it only at that spot and not further up at the next curve? Why is it not on the downhill side? Knowing so many have experienced a problem there, I take it with extra caution in my AWD and have slipped, going 30mph. My brother, who comes to WS every couple of weeks, mentioned he slipped there a few weeks ago. He recently had his chest cracked open for surgery and drives cautiously because normal inertia is painful. He fishtailed and was surprised he didn’t hit the barrier. He thought there must have been oil on the road. I let him know he was far from alone.

bill January 6, 2025 (8:58 pm)

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Loss of control crashes don’t happen as often on the downhill side because looking downhill is skeery! Really, this is a natural human reaction, so enough drivers take it easy to keep overall speeds down. Also traffic comes on to the road at surface street speeds and the stoplight at 35th. On the uphill side folks have been on a long straightaway where they drive like they are still on I-5 or 99. The speed limit signs (45 mph) and the advisory speed sign (35 mph) are not there as distractions. They are conveying pertinent information. In 30 years of living in West Seattle I have never experienced traction problems on that curve. Look into the condition of your tires.
- K January 7, 2025 (1:08 pm)
  
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  Are you really arguing that drivers “naturally” go faster uphill than downhill? Gravity would like a word with you. Drive up and down the Highland Park Way hill some time (which people also speed on) and tell me which way you feel like you have more control over your vehicle.

WSB January 6, 2025 (10:02 pm)

For anyone still monitoring this discussion, yes, of course I inquired with SDOT today. They acknowledged my inquiry at day’s end. Regardless of why people are crashing, the fact is that this is a frequent-crash site and the question is whether they’re studying that and what they might do about it. Will write a separate story whenever we hear back – TR

Midi January 10, 2025 (3:50 pm)

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Raising my hand as still following this, I haven’t crashed at this location but I hold my breath every time I drive this stretch. Looking forward to the follow up when you do hear back
- WSB January 10, 2025 (3:58 pm)
  
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  Yeah, they’re still taking their time. We persist.

slick January 6, 2025 (11:57 pm)

Here’s my mound of evidence.
Ive been driving that road and those turns since the “West Seattle Freeway” opened. Vehicles including: 68 Chevy truck with big block tuned engine and no sand bags in bac, 72 Buick, &nbsp,71 Ford station wagon, 85 Honda civic, 95 Volvo wagon, 2000 Audi A4, 2007 Honda Ridgeline, 85 Ford Taurus wagon…Not all had great tires. I’ve never lost control, but I do follow the speed limit.I do drive according to current conditions (it is a speed LIMIT, not a required minimum speed).