UPDATE: Car-on-side crash at 31st/Thistle

9:39 AM: This didn’t generate a big emergency response, so we might have missed it if not for the texter who sent that photo. This happened in the past half-hour at 31st SW and SW Thistle. The response level indicates no serious injuries, but we’re verifying with SFD.

9:58 AM: According to incident audio, the driver walked/ran away from the scene before police got there; he was described as white, 25-30 years old, medium to heavy build, blue sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black shoes. The crash also was reported to have knocked down some of the pedestrian signage at the intersection.

30 Replies to "UPDATE: Car-on-side crash at 31st/Thistle"

  • Thistle Speedway January 19, 2025 (10:09 am)

    At 9:13am the driver of a 4 door Volvo wagon going westbound on SW thistle st lost control of the vehicle at 30Th Ave sw, swerved onto the N sidewalk and then over to the S sidewalk at 31st Ave sw. Car was rolled onto passenger side. A blonde 18-25 y.o male crawled out of the driver side window, attempted to flip the car back onto its wheels (yeah he really did) then like the empty headed coward he is, fled northbound up an alley on foot and left us to listen to the s+*^% music that had him all amped up to drive a car at 70mph through a residential area. Dumbass. I hope they put you in jail where you can learn at least something about decent driving music.

    • Question Authority January 19, 2025 (11:09 am)

      Why don’t you like Country music, are you more of a Rap or Classical fan? Cars are wrecked while listening to NPR so don’t be judgmental ok.

      • ?A! January 19, 2025 (12:11 pm)

        True, 
        But most people who roll their Volvos’ listening to NPR have their volume down to NPR levels.  
        Anecdotally, I have yet to experience  an NPR story blaring, much less bumping, at a stoplight or several blocks distant.

      • Guilty much January 19, 2025 (12:25 pm)

        They didn’t even say what music it was. 

        • Question Authority January 20, 2025 (10:03 am)

          Nmk commented they heard County music from the vehicle, so yes it has basis.

      • K January 19, 2025 (1:49 pm)

        There is terrible music alongside the good music in every genre.  The fact that you assumed they were speaking to the whole genre and not just the artist or song playing at the time says a lot about your opinion of country music.

      • Eirc1 January 19, 2025 (2:55 pm)

        Calling country music is being generous… LOL…  60-80’s rock fan…

      • CarDriver January 19, 2025 (3:31 pm)

        QA. Maybe it was the twang that got the driver discombobulated.

        • Question Authority January 20, 2025 (10:11 am)

          You might be onto something, twang could be the new slang for being high or drunk behind the wheel.  “I got twanged last night!”

  • Gill & Alex January 19, 2025 (10:18 am)

    Looks more like 30th Ave. SW.

  • Nmk January 19, 2025 (10:24 am)

    I saw this happen and called police. He was doing donuts and driving erratically before he flipped his car. He then hopped out of the driver side window (was blasting loud country music) and tried to flip the vehicle back up. He then fled the scene when my friends and I approached to check and help. He seemed to running on adrenaline . 

    • A local January 19, 2025 (10:17 pm)

      I wonder if thats one of the fools who go do donuts and burn outs in the parking lot of the Chief Sealth rec center and race up and down Thistle at ridiculous speeds in the middle of the night. If it was, its pure karma.

  • Dcn January 19, 2025 (11:04 am)

    It’s an almost nightly occurrence for someone to do donuts in the SWAC parking lot and then go tearing uphill on Thistle. It’s extremely loud for all the neighbors. 

  • H2OK9 January 19, 2025 (11:21 am)

    This intersection has a larger raised concrete street abutment or ‘speed table’ as SDOT calls it. It is covered with leaf debris, in the shadows has not been painted in 10 years rendering nearly invisible to drivers especially at night or bad weather.I have seen cars ram it at full speed, bounce over it or damage  rims.I have reported it several times to SDOT over the years. No response.Not defending the driver  just  pointing out the hazard .

    • Hoky January 19, 2025 (11:32 am)

      When they first put that in with no markings or vertical posts, I said “rollover waiting to happen.”  I say that every time I drive by. SDOT – so stupid. 

      • H2OK9 January 19, 2025 (12:33 pm)

        Glad someone else noticed this road hazard. What were they thinking?!?!

      • Marcus January 19, 2025 (3:17 pm)

        I agree that there needs to be reflectors just like parked cars—-however i do not think that was the problem.

      • Derp January 19, 2025 (9:08 pm)

        At the posted speed of 25 mph, that might be difficult. But at 70 as noted,  everyday

    • ?A! January 19, 2025 (12:18 pm)

      Any turn at all is a hazard for the type doing donuts in stolen or “borrowed” cars and driving at “70 mph” in a 20mph Residential Zone.

    • bill January 19, 2025 (2:52 pm)

      Road furniture that damages speeding vehicles? I’m not seeing a problem.

    • K January 19, 2025 (3:29 pm)

      There’s so much signage in the area (now apparently less due to the driver), including well-marked crosswalks. And it’s roughly 6 years old, not 10. Not sure what you expect SDOT to do about obnoxious and unsafe drivers. High time we stop blaming SDOT for safety features we don’t like because drivers are making bad decisions.

      • ltm mgm January 19, 2025 (4:16 pm)

        🤦🏻‍♀️    Geez K     H20K9 said——Not defending the driver  just  pointing out the hazard “

      • h January 19, 2025 (5:06 pm)

        I am simply stating that is not well maintained needs to be cleaned and painted and marked. Why does that seem like ‘blame”? It’s simply a routine maintenance request for a dangerous road hazard.Once again Not defending the driver  just  pointing out the hazard .Do you work for SDOT lol….;) just kidding

  • Aaron C January 19, 2025 (12:06 pm)

    A guy entered our front yard (near 31st and Myrtle) at 9:24 this morning and left by climbing over our locked 6’ back gate into the alley. He was coming from the direction of Walt Hundley playfield though, but other than the blue sweatshirt his description kinda sounds like this guy – grey sweatpants and black shoes, looking like he was in a hurry. 

  • aa January 19, 2025 (7:46 pm)

    Maybe try “Find it Fix it” via seattle.gov.  I know some people don’t think much of it but I have reported several things and have seen a response/repair within a week or two each time.

  • Neighbor January 19, 2025 (7:54 pm)

    I have footage of him on my alley cameras several blocks away. 

    • 1994 January 19, 2025 (11:10 pm)

      running or walking? just wondering ….

Sorry, comment time is over.