UPDATE: Crash at California/Dakota, 4 injured

10:06 PM: Police are arriving at the scene of a two-vehicle crash reported at California/Dakota, with at least two people hurt.

11:06 PM: Police have just reopened the street. We went to the scene after a report that one vehicle had ended up on the lawn of a church – First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – is on the southwest corner – but all we could see was one vehicle on the sidewalk. We’re following up with SFD regarding the people who were hurt.

ADDED 9:45 AM MONDAY: SFD responded:

There were four patients, and all were in stable condition:

14-year-old-male, not transported to the hospital
15-year-old-female, not transported to the hospital
16-year-old-female, transported by AMR to HMC
17-year-old-male, transported by AMR to HMC

(AMR is the private ambulance service, usually indicates a less-serious injury/illness than would require transport by an SFD medic unit.)
11:21 AM: A reader citing family involvement says the boy listed as 14 is actually 15 and the girl listed as 15 is 16.

Rae December 28, 2025 (10:22 pm)

My daughter saw this accident, the driver was speeding WAY over the speed limit down California and swerved around them to pass and then t-boned another car in the intersection. Hope they are all ok.

Sho December 29, 2025 (2:06 am)

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Hi Rae. My daughter was in the car that was t-boned in this accident. If you’re comfortable, I’d appreciate the chance to connect with you. You can text me at 206.337.0659. Thank you.

Mellow Kitty December 29, 2025 (6:44 am)

We need immediate speed regulation on California Ave. The posted speed limit on the road is between 25 and 30 mph depending on the area. I’m honestly surprised there haven’t been more fatal accidents with people treating the road as their own personal drag strip. I’m sure I’ll get replies complaining about the speed limit being so low that people “have to speed” to get anywhere. Leave your house earlier if it’s too slow. We are way too tolerant and forgiving of speeders and reckless driving on our streets.

Brian December 29, 2025 (8:59 am)

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For my specific commute I’ve been toying with the idea of a custom sticker that reads “It isn’t my fault you’re late for the ferry.”
Seattlite December 29, 2025 (9:05 am)

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Seattle’s speed limits are low. However, Seattle’s drivers are not obeying the speed limits which causes accidents and great danger to other drivers and their passengers. I get tailgated on California Avenue SW all of the time because I drive between 25 and 30 MPH. Driving on 35th Avenue SW is like driving on a speed course. The speed limit is 25 MPH. However, I see drivers speeding up to 40 and 50 MPH on 35th Avenue SW.
SpeedLimit December 29, 2025 (9:14 am)

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The speed limit is 25MPH the entire length of California.
Foop December 29, 2025 (9:23 am)

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Wider sidewalks, protected, grade separated bike lanes. Raised cross walks in every major junctions. Remove the suicide lane, this is what would effectively reduce speed while allowing traffic to flow and move people’s whole still providing room for busses but also giving people other ways to traverse the peninsula. A few speed humps isn’t helping anyone.
Anne December 29, 2025 (10:30 am)

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You’re right you will get folks -like me- saying speed limit is already low. What needs to change are actual impactful penalties for speeding – especially when accidents are the result. Traffic/speed cameras that issue tickets would make a difference too. The speeding & racing that goes on along California Ave, Alki, Beach Drive later at night is ridiculous.
Derp December 29, 2025 (2:45 pm)

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What we need are parents that care about our community and more about what their children/delinquents are doing. Who was driving ? Why are their 4 juveniles in a car ? Juveniles know they can get away with this type of behavior and most patents don’t care of have no idea what their kids are doing.

Marcus December 29, 2025 (10:42 am)

There is nothing wrong with the speed limit, or street sidewalk definitions. It is bad actors that are not responsible in their actions. Get more police patrols and start showing the presence needed to stop this driving behavior.

Jules December 29, 2025 (11:17 am)

My son-in-law, grandson and his girlfriend were in the car that was t-boned. There were all injured along with their new car being totaled (but who cares about that at this point). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE!Parents of teen-aged drivers: Please have a conversation with them about the responsibilities that come along with driving a vehicle!!And for God’s sakes people, PLEASE SLOW DOWN!!

KM December 29, 2025 (11:57 am)

High speed crashes like this on California always remind me of the teen boy who killed a pedestrian and fled the scene a few years ago, and was never charged. He was going VERY fast.

West seattle long time resident December 29, 2025 (1:47 pm)

I am very very saddened and distressed by this accident that could have been avoided! This driver that caused the crash is a senior at West Seattle High School. Last summer, my son who is a sophomore was riding in the car with this driver who is two grades older. The driver was speeding and passing me on beach drive -( it was very dangerous). I sat down with this driver after that incident to explain in great length that speed kills and that someone could end up dead. My childhood best friend died in a car accident in college so I really wanted to make an impression. While I was calmly and respectfully trying to make an impression on this young man last summer about not passing cars and not speeding ( it appears after last nights incident that it didn’t take). I sure hope they take away his drivers license. My son ( was sitting in a car on California avenue at the same time as the accident last night and he witnessed the whole accident). It really shook my son up and he came home waking me up last night very very upset. I’m very concerned about teen driving and this accident occurred because the driver did exactly what I saw him doing last summer ( dangerously speeding while passing a car and this time ( last night clearly ) he couldn’t see the car beyond after passing the first car and that’s how the car in the intersection got T Boned). It could have been deadly. I know all of the kids in the car and am relieved they are not dead. The driver is a very nice young man and he is very respectful and raised by good parents but that vehicle is a ticking time bomb.

1994 December 29, 2025 (1:55 pm)

Aren’t teens, under age 18, not supposed to drive other teens until a certain age is reached or a certain amount of legit driving experience? I thought there was some extra driving restrictions for those under age 18.

my two cents December 29, 2025 (2:47 pm)

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Details can be found found here: https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/get-your-first-license-or-permit/driver-license-application-ages-16-17
Rats December 29, 2025 (3:27 pm)

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You are correct. From DOL.WA.GOV:

Intermediate license restrictions for teen drivers

If you’re under 18 years old, we will issue you an intermediate license. You must follow all of the following rules until you turn 18:

Driving with passengers

There are restrictions on passengers allowed in a vehicle with you. If you drive safely for 1 year, then the passenger restrictions expire. However, penalties for other violations will apply until you’re 18.

First 6 months

You may not have any passengers under 20 years old except for immediate family members (spouse, child, stepchild, or siblings by birth or marriage).

Next 6 months

You may not have more than 3 passengers under 20 years old who aren’t members of your immediate family (spouse, child, stepchild, or siblings by birth or marriage).

Nighttime driving

You can’t drive between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless you’re with a licensed driver who’s 25 years or older. If you drive safely for 1 year, then the nighttime driving restrictions expire. However, penalties for other violations will apply until you’re 18.

Worried citizen December 29, 2025 (3:08 pm)

Do you think there will be criminal charges?

Derp December 30, 2025 (9:54 am)

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I don’t it, juveniles can do whatever they want in this state. You can thank your state legislature for that

WSCurmudgeon December 29, 2025 (3:12 pm)

Gee, Officer Krupke

The arguments about speed limits, road improvements, penalties, speed bumps, social decline, etc., rage on and are never settled on WSB (or in the country.) The link above is to the song from West Side Story, 1961.