UPDATE: Driver goes over embankment onto California Way

(Added: WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)

10:48 PM: An initial “rescue extrication” response was quickly downsized this past half-hour when crews got to the scene where a driver was reported to have gone over the embankment from Hamilton Viewpoint onto California Way below. They reported that the driver, a man in his early 20s, was out of the car and conscious, so no extricating was necessary. They’re now evaluating the driver for impairment.

11:02 PM: California Way remains closed while officers await an SDOT crew to clean up the fluid spill from the crash.

11:45 PM: Officers just told dispatch the street has reopened.

IAgree September 13, 2025 (7:47 am)

An older Honda without a license plate. Stolen? Was the driver arrested, released? Update, please.

WSB September 13, 2025 (12:09 pm)

Info isn’t likely to be available before Sunday night.

RS September 13, 2025 (8:22 am)

Loud unmuffled cars have been absolutely screaming down California all night for the last few days. I have stopped walking down this stretch because it’s so terrifying to see cars take the sharp turn at excessive speeds and lose control. But how did this person even manage this? Was the gate open?

Jack September 13, 2025 (9:38 am)

RS, you are correct, as absolutely zero traffic enforcement by SPD continues, the situation on Alki Ave, Harbor Ave, California Ave and Admiral Way have become out of control and dangerous. Loud unmuffled speeding vehicles at all hours of the night are disturbing the peace and quiet residence pay taxes for and deserve. SPD needs to find a way to get control of this situation, period. Just drive down these streets and look at the rubber burn marks everywhere.

RS September 13, 2025 (10:27 am)

I don’t have a lot of hope for traffic enforcement, if even the constant shootings OF OCCUPIED HOMES on Alki can’t get a police presence. I can only hope they do start passively monitoring the admiral and school zone cameras and see how much potentially lethal speeding is going on in North Admiral. I routinely hear cars and motorcycles going 60+ in the school zones, and would love for all the McDonalds employees to receive tickets for their constant engine revving and reckless high speed/stunt driving and stupid racecars with stickers all over them.
- Foop September 14, 2025 (7:15 am)
  
  Well traffic calming: narrowing the roads, widening sidewalks and adding in wide protected bike lanes and planting trees on arterials would to far more to rein in speeding and reckless driving than a police officer ever could, but this is the price you pay so you all can go 5 over without feeling uncomfortable and never have a single parking space touched.
j September 13, 2025 (2:20 pm)

Well I just saw a motorcycle cop sitting in the sun on his bike looking at his mobile phone on this sunny afternoon. (in all fairness: might have been taking a break. everyone deserves that)Perhaps scheduling more police officers during the night shift, instead of mostly family afternoons would help? A lot of stuff going on about the time the beach closes at 10:30pm.

Julia September 13, 2025 (11:36 am)

Cars have been tearing up and down Fauntleroy this summer, by the ferry dock and Lincoln Park. Crazy loud, at all hours.

MS September 13, 2025 (12:24 pm)

For what it’s worth, I was the caller. I was at the park at the top of the hill and just heard about 5 seconds of tire squealing followed by miltiple loud crash sounds. No loud engine or exhaust at all. It truly sounded like he went off the embankment so I suggested that may be possible on the call, but that wasnt substantiated in person at all. Perfectly straight portion of the road as well, I can only suspect how one might lose control in a straight section with no other vehicles around. We drove up this road 10 minutes prior and the road was fine.

RS September 13, 2025 (1:10 pm)

Oh how odd; so you were in Hamilton Viewpoint? Do you think he lost control on California Way and simply over corrected or crashed? or was he doing burnouts in the Hamilton Viewpoint parking lot and lost control and went over onto California Way? This is all so terrifying to me as a (former I suppose) frequent pedestrian on that stretch. I am expecting cars to hit me from all sides but not from above!

Jack September 13, 2025 (8:32 pm)

If only SPD would read the West Seattle Blog and hear the frustration of the areas residents.

Ferns September 14, 2025 (7:46 pm)

Was there damage to fencing at Hamilton viewpoint? If the car went over the, essentially bluff, this seems like a dramatic crash, crushed tree branches, etc would result. ???

Sorry, comment time is over.