UPDATE: Two more West Seattle Bridge crashes

5:48 PM: The bright lights in the upper left of that cropped screenshot from SDOT’s West Seattle Bridge camera mark yet another crash on the westbound side of bridge today. No SFD dispatch so apparently no injuries. But one tipster says they saw, when passing going the other way, “two police vehicles, bashed-up pickup at peak of bridge,” plus the traffic backup.

5:57 PM: We haven’t heard yet whether the scene has cleared, but the live camera shows that the backup has.

7:39 PM: There’s yet another crash that police are handling right now, closer to the curve than the aforementioned one, according to radio traffic. We’re mostly just making note so we can follow up with SDOT yet again on Monday.

The King February 22, 2025 (6:09 pm)

There was a single vehicle accident westbound at the corner around 8:30-8:40 am this morning too. So three today?

Amy T February 22, 2025 (6:15 pm)

Wtf seriously there have been so many wrecks there when is the city going to acknowledge that that part of the ramp is messed up ? When do we start suing the city for these accidents instead of making insurance companies have to pay out and keep raising our rates for crap that isn’t most people’s fault? It’s that stretch of roadway right there but the welcome to west seattle sign it’s almost caught us before

22blades February 23, 2025 (1:51 am)

Stop blaming everything & everybody else for a lack of driving skills & responsibility. We didn’t magically wind up 49th out of 50 just because of some bad designs.

DarwinsCurve February 22, 2025 (6:37 pm)

If SDOT made the pavement different a few hundred feet ahead, this would never happen!

Amy T February 22, 2025 (7:09 pm)

Agreed
Pelicans February 23, 2025 (12:35 am)

Maybe going too fast is the reason for crashes there, but still, SDOT needs to face reality and improve the roadway to prevent these accidents. What’s it going to take – a multi-million dollar judgement against the city (paid for by us taxpayers) paid out to an innocent party injured by a speeder?
Lagartija Nick February 23, 2025 (8:30 am)

Well played, Darwin! Well played!
DarwinsCurve February 23, 2025 (9:04 am)

Sucks I have to mention I was being sarcastic. The wreck wasn’t at the curve. People need to slow down. Same goes for the neighborhood streets throughout the peninsula.

Seattlite February 22, 2025 (7:38 pm)

West Seattle should sue SDOT for negligence in keeping the WS Bridge safe. The accidents and injuries and mounting. No one wants an accident on this neglected stretch of the WS Freeway to lead to anyone’s death.

Neighbor near by February 22, 2025 (8:11 pm)

I have been wondering if any of the drivers in curve collisions (today or in the past months) would have a case against SDOT?

WSzombie February 22, 2025 (7:51 pm)

It was obvious that SDOT made their accident reduction recommendations without even driving the bridge. I hope people finally realize it’s not a speed problem, it’s a road, bump, and rain issue, and it’s totally preventable.@WSB if you would ever like to drive or ride along that stretch, I can show you exactly (in a safe manner) how it happens. I’d let you drive my Toyota Tacoma if you’d like. It’s a 2017 that is well maintained with new tires and it’s automatic.

Frank February 22, 2025 (8:06 pm)

I can’t imagine how many man hours of police this stupid piece of road has cost the city. I’m pretty sure everyone agrees that there are better things cops could be doing than dealing with car wrecks. This would be the easiest low hanging fruit to reduce the workload on officers and mitigate of shortage of officers. But apparently sdot has an ego that is more important.

Jeff thompson February 22, 2025 (9:01 pm)

Blame it on the pavement come on how about people slow the f*** down it’s pouring down rain it’s dark out and people are doing 60 on that bridge following each other too close I see it everyday. I blame it on the idiots that don’t know how to drive

Dave February 22, 2025 (8:54 pm)

SDOT needs to fix this issue, but in the meantime people need to slow down going around this curve especially in the rain. What’s your hurry?

Brent M February 22, 2025 (11:57 pm)

Saying what’s the hurry implies people are recklessly speeding. I’ve lost traction along the viaduct to the bridge multiple times in the rain while going below the speed limit while driving a Subaru AWD with newer Michelin tires. The traction loss is slight but still noticeable. The ONLY way I don’t slip at all is if I fully let off the gas to round out the problematic corner. It’s not reasonable for every driver to know this “trick” to not slip while rounding the corner. Some folks may be driving the stretch for the first time. Some folks may be tired or zone out for a split second. And our neighbors who drive RWD can very easily spin if giving even the slightest throttle even just to maintain speed.

Upper Fauntleroy February 22, 2025 (10:02 pm)

Sincerely, it’s Seattle. What do you expect?

brizone February 22, 2025 (10:12 pm)

That curve was designed/built wrong a long time ago. No banking. Really dumb. As the sudden right angle in the lane markers Eastbound just before 99, or sudden left angle on Avalon at Yancy. What is to be done? SDOT pulls this stuff all over town.

Julia February 22, 2025 (10:50 pm)

Something is wrong there, speed is not the only issue. I’ve driven that road for decades with no problem (and not always as cautiously as I should). Only recently did I lose traction, on that spot on damp pavement going SLOWLY.

NativetoSeattle February 22, 2025 (11:15 pm)

I called 911 around 5:10 after passing the pickup truck. I couldn’t see anyone in the truck which seemed very odd. I don’t know how they could have fled the scene without someone seeing them. I hope it wasn’t a medical emergency which could have made it so I couldn’t see anyone.

22blades February 23, 2025 (1:53 am)

Maybe doing 70 in a 45 is a bad idea. Plenty of cars make it just fine.

buttercup February 23, 2025 (12:42 pm)

Thank you. It’s a BRIDGE, NOT A FREEWAY.
Annie February 23, 2025 (4:44 pm)

Totally agree. Speed limit is 30. If you choose to speed and wreck your car that’s on you, not the city.

Watertowerjim February 23, 2025 (5:39 am)

Let’s do a three-year study!

Jason February 23, 2025 (7:03 am)

I’d attribute the crashes in this situation down to the fact that there was visible areas of oil / diesel / gas that had been deposited onto the roadway in various spots of Alaska / Fauntleroy. This can get redistributed onto the bridge from cars driving through it. With heavy rains that slick can get redistributed onto pavement and cause crashes.

MM February 23, 2025 (7:20 am)

The road is not an issue if you stick to the speed limits, or perhaps even drive a little below the speed limit when roads are wet and conditions bad. It’s not rocket science!!

Bbron February 23, 2025 (7:22 am)

Hilarious that anyone thinks there’s legitimate cause to sue anyone let alone SDOT. y’all need to refresh yourself on driving RCWs, particularly that all responsibility for safe operation of a vehicle is on the driver, and they have to exercise discretion to drive safely based on conditions, not just mindlessly following the speed limit. Pay attention to I5 collisions when it rains, and you get the same: collisions because drivers don’t adapt. Driving requires skill and ability, and not everyone ought to be doing it.

Lou February 23, 2025 (7:46 am)

Only entity that can keep you safe in your car is YOU. Don’t speed and don’t drive with bald tires.

Annie February 23, 2025 (8:05 am)

Agree. The speed limit around curve says 30. You follow that and you’ll be fine. If you speed, that’s on you. Not the city.

Jaded February 23, 2025 (8:25 am)

SDOT is too busy spending the “transportation” levy money putting in quiet streets and building bike paths, Why would they fix existing infrastructure? In the last week I have come across several streets that have areas blocked off due to pot holes and several streets that probably should be blocked off due to poor pavement. Should these new projects be done? Yes, absolutely, but fix the current issues as well.

WS Mike February 23, 2025 (8:37 am)

There are a couple spots where standing water is a serious issue. If people don’t know it’s coming they’re screwed. Meanwhile slow the F down!

SoLongDelridge February 23, 2025 (1:09 pm)

Tear it down, awful design from the start.

Slow Down February 23, 2025 (1:30 pm)

I have a saying … life isn’t difficult, people make life difficult.

My last car accident was 30-35 years ago which includes living in three different states, cities larger than Seattle, & driving cross country when we moved here 15 years ago.

Am I just lucky? No.

I drive responsibly based on driving conditions … rainy, icy, darkness … it’s not difficult unless YOU make it difficult. I don’t tailgate, ever. I leave plenty of room from the car in front of me so that I don’t have to slam on the brakes or worse, ride the brakes as many people do.

80% of drivers in Seattle drive too fast … & then you blame the road when you get in an accident … brilliant.

MrBell February 23, 2025 (6:21 pm)

It’s only a matter of time until there’s an injury/death at that corner due to SDOT’s negligence. Then comes the lawsuit and a big settlement. Only then will SDOT do something. It’s the Seattle Process.