UPDATE: Police investigating hit-run on Alki, child injured

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

3:08 PM: Police are closing Alki Avenue between 61st and 62nd after a hit-run crash that is reported to have injured a 2-year-old child. The victim is reported to be ‘awake and alert’ so the initially large SFD response is being reduced. Police are looking for a gray Toyota RAV-4 with a dent on the passenger side, plate possibly starting with CDX.

(Added: Photo by Cami MacNamara)

3:27 PM: Police just told dispatch that they’re reopening Alki Avenue. Medics were taking the child to a hospital; we’ll be following up with SFD for an update.

4:25 PM: SFD tells us the victim was a 5-year-old boy who was in stable condition when taken to Harborview Medical Center. We’ll follow up with SPD to find out whether they found/find the driver.

Lauren November 16, 2025 (7:06 pm)

Poor kiddo and family. Hope he has an easy recovery.

Alki resident November 16, 2025 (7:21 pm)

I hope that boy is going to be fine. How traumatic. There’s no way that driver didn’t know he hit a child, what a low life.

WSzombie November 16, 2025 (10:11 pm)

So was the child a pedestrian or was there another vehicle involved? The article says “hit and run crash”, but only mentions a child being hurt. No mention of the driver, so it leaves it unclear of what happened.

WSB November 16, 2025 (10:27 pm)

Sorry, this was reported as a driver vs. pedestrian crash. No info on the circumstances except that the driver left the scene.
LC November 16, 2025 (11:31 pm)

I witnessed the whole thing. He hit the child in the middle of the street and didn’t even try to stop, running him over completely. It was horrific. There is no way he didn’t know he hit something, the initial strike was so loud I looked because I thought he’d hit another car. It was a child!
- Jessi November 17, 2025 (8:32 am)
  
  How awful 😞. I can’t imagine the parents. Hope they find the dirtbag.

22blades November 17, 2025 (2:33 am)

“He hit the child in the middle of the street and didn’t even try to stop”. Speaks volumes about the lack of responsible driving behavior.

Marcus November 17, 2025 (8:32 am)

This is why we need live feed cameras in certain areas. Someone hits a 5 year old and flees. Could have been anyone yet now it is a child. Personal safety versus “freedom from surveillance for criminals”. I side with personal safety.

Nolan November 17, 2025 (9:43 am)

It’d be simultaneously easier, cheaper, and safer to eliminate traffic along Alki Beach than it would be to continue building a panopticon that has already been used to hunt down immigrants and political dissidents.
- Actualperson November 17, 2025 (11:44 am)
  
  Nolan. Do you boycott businesses that have security cameras watching your every move? That would be EVERY business. What are they doing with the video and who are they sharing with-other than the evening news-and WSB. What do you say to homeowners that have security cameras? Who and what are they watching. Do you confront them for sharing the video with the media and neighbors? Do you confront people that have their cell phones out taking pictures? You never know who and why they’re filming and doing what with the pictures and video…… Your “no cameras here” boat sailed many many years ago.
  - Foop November 17, 2025 (3:05 pm)
    
    What a frothing over reaction to the suggestion we pedestrianize one of our cities most popular attractions.
    - pophouse November 20, 2025 (11:27 am)
      
      it really would be better without cars tho
  - Nolan November 17, 2025 (3:41 pm)
    
    That’s a potentially record-setting number of sequential leaps. Congrats.
- WSzombie November 18, 2025 (9:39 pm)
  
  Choosing to prohibit/disable cameras because of the POSSIBLE access of ICE in order to arrest illegal immigrants over the outright safety of citizens (as well as safety of illegal immigrants) is an absurd dilemma to even have to consider. 99.99% of people SHOULD choose their personal safety. Any person of sound mind and body will choose self-preservation, not virtue signaling.

Admiral2009 November 17, 2025 (9:28 am)

Hopefully the child will be ok. There are way too many hit and run drivers, these drivers need to be dealt with harshly.

The State Legislature needs to deal with this issue. One venue is to ensure all motorists carry liability insurance as already mandated by law. Making motorists show proof of insurance when getting new car tabs makes sense and then vigorous enforcement of tabs to ensure compliance. I have contacted our legislatures numerous times on this to no avail. A fully insured motorist is less likely to hit and run than one not insured.

k November 17, 2025 (11:54 am)

Cars are prioritized above everything, including human life. Traffic calming DOES help. The speed limits are lowered so that people like this boy will survive when hit by a car, because we’re supposed to just accept that pedestrians will get hit, and that’s the price to be paid for our car-centric culture. Insurance doesn’t prevent it from happening, and doesn’t do anything after the fact if the driver takes off. You can get insurance to show proof when renewing your tabs and then cancel before your first premium payment is even due. What would change outcomes in situations like this is road design that prioritizes human life over cars and convenience. Slow cars can still hurt people, but don’t kill them nearly as often. Taking away parking to improve visibility prevents collisions in the first place.
- Frog November 17, 2025 (2:49 pm)
  
  It’s not true that cars have any special status. Progressives don’t like to enforce laws involving cars for the exact same reasons they don’t like to enforce any other laws. It’s simple to enforce insurance laws by requiring insurance companies to report insurance status, and noticing which registered cars have no insurance. It’s done in other states, no problem. If the driver had insurance, at least it would help to cover the victim’s medical expenses. Also, the driver might be unable to get insurance or find affordable insurance after a pedestrian hit and run incident, forcing that driver to stop driving. But no, progressive state legislators do not want to enforce this type of rule.

Tod November 17, 2025 (9:43 am)

As the person above said, it was a 5yo boy. I called 911 as did a few others. A driver coming from the opposite direction saw it as well. He said he tried to block the offending car when he saw them getting ready to take off. The car did stop for a few seconds, long enough for a couple of witnesses to get the license plate, only part of which was shared here. I hope we will get some news about the boy. His mother was there on the sidewalk w two small siblings. The father went in the ambulance with his son, whose screams were horrible as was the amount of blood. But the paramedics tended to him and they took him to Harborview, last I heard. The previous writer was also right about the sound. I was watching it happen from the bus stop and I saw the kids scampering around by the parked cars with their dad. and then I heard the sound which sounded like a car hitting a car, but it was the kid. the police also got some bit of video from the Alki Coffee shop. But I don’t know if it was helpful as their cameras were directed at the business and not the street. Everyone be safe!

Ray November 17, 2025 (12:17 pm)

Anyone know if the child is okay? If the family has any steep medical bills from this, I would gladly support a funding campaign to help the family out.

Kids mom November 17, 2025 (1:01 pm)

Hi neighbors. Thank you so much for your thoughts, comments and concerns for our sweet happy Trey (5 years old). He is doing well being monitored at Harborview for traumatic brain injury. No fractures or internal bleeding. They caught the driver/or the driver turned themselves in. Family and I are doing our best with a great support system. So grateful to all the kind people on the scene and here giving virtual kindness. Hope we get to go home soon.

WSB November 17, 2025 (1:15 pm)

Thank you for the update and we wish Trey a speedy thorough recovery – Tracy (editor)
- Dani Dugan November 17, 2025 (1:35 pm)
  
  Thank you Tracy.
- Actualperson November 17, 2025 (2:15 pm)
  
  YES. Hope he fully recovers! WSB. A follow up with SPD will be appreciated. My guess is impairment. All the controls in the world will never stop a dui driver.
  - WSB November 17, 2025 (2:54 pm)
    
    Of course I have that inquiry out. Collisions, however, are extremely difficult to get followup info about because the reports are handled differently. As always, if I get more info, I’ll add it here.
    - Dani Dugan November 17, 2025 (5:30 pm)
      
      They said we are good to go home. So waiting for that official discharge now. He’s in good spirits. If anyone would like to send some love we’d appreciate any donations to make these next few days a bit easier on us. My Venmo is @Dani-Dugan.

John November 17, 2025 (6:13 pm)

I saw the whole incident from the other side of the road. The child was standing next to the parked car at the beach side of the road, not moving, just standing, waiting, & the father shouted at the car since it was going too fast. There was no car from the opposite direction, I don’t know why the car drove too close to the parked cars. The car never slowed down until after hitting the child on the right passenger side & drove over the child with the right front wheel. It was a horrible accident, I hope the child recovers

Trey’s mom Dani November 17, 2025 (8:34 pm)

Thank you John. We are home now happy and safe. Kinda unreal and superhero he got out basically unscathed. Worst day of my life.
- LC November 18, 2025 (2:26 pm)
  
  I’m so glad Trey is okay and at home! I was there and you were a superhero mom for him and your two other little ones! 💜
- John November 30, 2025 (7:21 pm)
  
  Hi Trey’s mom Dani,I’m very glad to hear your son is ok! It’s really a miracle! Thanks for the news! John

Morgan November 17, 2025 (7:27 pm)

It’s logical to continue to examine ways to slow traffic and protect pedestrians, apart from obvious needed full prosecution and enforcement of laws. Pedestrian bollards, raised crosswalks, curb bulb outs…lots left undone. Buy it won’t be cheap and allocating costs all on small businesses via property owners in a levy is unfair. But support continuing to find ways to make it even better road. The on street parking is an example of a good buffer that doesn’t cost much. Would like SDOT to do some communication and workshops with community about other incremental options at differing cost levels so it keeps improving.raised crosswalks? Anyone else?