Two quick updates on 35th/Juneau accident

To recap from our original report (WSB coverage plus more than 80 comments, here) – a driver hit a teenage girl crossing 35th at Juneau yesterday afternoon. Now, the updates from Lt. Steve Paulsen at the Southwest Precinct: First, though exact condition information isn’t available (privacy laws), Lt. Paulsen says he has heard she’s expected to survive. Second, as we suspected, the tv report that the driver “will not be cited” is not quite right; a citation may not have been issued at the scene, but as Lt. Paulsen explains it, “Our Traffic Collision Investigations squad is doing the followup and will decide after reviewing their facts and circumstances if any violation occurred.”

OlMom September 5, 2008 (1:57 pm)

Thank you for the update. I will be praying for the young lady.

d September 5, 2008 (2:57 pm)

To the girl’s family and friends and to the driver’s family and friends –

More thoughts of healing and peace are sent your way.

chas redmond September 5, 2008 (4:29 pm)

If nothing else the driver should be cited for “failure to yield to a pedestrian” and for then causing pedestrian injuries.

Steph September 5, 2008 (4:31 pm)

Yes, I send healing thoughts your way as well. Let’s hope we can get together for a reasonable solution to the problems on 35th.

Brandon September 5, 2008 (5:23 pm)

“If nothing else the driver should be cited for “failure to yield to a pedestrian” and for then causing pedestrian injuries.”

How ridiculous, unless you were there as a witness or are investigating the incident. Some people forget we get the facts first before we cite people. How do you know that the driver even stood a chance to see the ped when they stepped out from behind the car that stopped? Why didn’t the ped see the car? It wasn’t dark out? Lets get the facts first, K? I’m not willing to give peds a free ride in this town becuase too many times I see them not paying ANY attention when crossing a street (not likely on 35TH, its just too busy). But on other side steets and intersections, most of the time, peds don’t even make any eye contact, they just walk on through. If the facts say the driver was neg, then nail them. But driving with 2 kids screaming in the back seat takes a toll. Try it some time.

Indaknow September 5, 2008 (7:06 pm)

“But driving with 2 kids screaming in the back seat takes a toll. Try it some time.”
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Hmmm, sounds like a good definition of negligent driving to me. I don’t care what is distracting a driver; spilled coffee, phone call, screaming children or jumping dogs, pull over if you can’t pay attention.
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And, no, I’m not saying that the driver was anything but unlucky in this case, I am just tired of hearing excuses from drivers.
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Yes, pedestrians should make eye-contact before stepping in front of a car. I made eye-contact with a woman stopped at a stop sign waiting to making a right-hand turn (on her cell phone, no less) right before she turned,hit me in a marked sidewalk and then oblivously drove on. Lucky for me she just grazed me with her right bumper or she would have run me over.

SUV nulu September 5, 2008 (7:06 pm)

Did the driver have 2 kids screaming in the back seat? Even if he did, that is no excuse. The same goes for talking on the phone, looking at the GPS, eating, drinking, applying makeup,talking or anything else. The driver has one responsibility, operating the vehicle safely. Riding high up in the SUV cab has long been one of the marketing devices of these trucks. Besides, if the driver was unable to see because of the stopped car, as some suggest, then the driver’s responsibility is to STOP!

Bertha September 5, 2008 (7:22 pm)

STOP!!! Could you all please stop pinning blame when no one knows the facts. In a perfect world all drivers would follow all laws and be totally alert and aware 100% of the time and all pedestrians would follow all laws and be totally alert and aware 100% of the time. This is not a perfect world and people get distracted not because they are irresponsible but because no one is perfect 100% of the time. I know there are irresponsible drivers and pedestrians and bikers but right now no one knows the circumstances of this horrible accident and it may be it is just an accident and no one is to fault except fate. Can we not rise above petty finger pointing and just send positive thoughts to both families involved and hope for a positive outcome?

Shirley September 5, 2008 (8:00 pm)

Sounds like this ped may have been screened by the car stopped in the inside lane. Although that in and of itself should be a red flag for any cautious driver, it may well have just seemed like a left turner to the oncoming driver.

Ultimately, it is ALWAYS the pedestrian’s responsibility to ensure a safe passage for themselves and not just take it for granted, regardless of right-of-way issues.

austin September 5, 2008 (9:05 pm)

If a car hits a pedestrian, the driver is at fault. Period. It’s the same as if you lose control of your vehicle and crash into an inanimate object. A person was unable to control the speed of their vehicle and ended up hitting something. It doesn’t matter if the speed was above or below the posted limit. It doesn’t matter if the driver was distracted by phone, child, etc. A person was unable to control their vehicle and a person ended up hurt. I understand that there are a lot of impatient people operating motor vehicles who do not feel that they should be responsible, that cars are entitled to the roadways “no matter what”, but that is not the case.

beachdrivegirl September 6, 2008 (9:32 am)

Yes it is my responsibility to get across safely. BUT, it is ALWAYS the drivers responsibility to STOP for any pedestrian @ a cross walk. There was a forum topic about this a few weeks ago where an individual did look up the Seattle traffic laws and confirmed that at any crosswalk (marked or unmarked) it is ALWAYS the drivers responsibility to STOP for a ped.

S Day September 6, 2008 (9:32 am)

^^ EXACTLY! If they were distracted, even more citations. If they weren’t, they were still at fault.

Brandon, you are exactly why I stare down car and fear for my life every single day I walk to work. PEDESTRIANS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY. DRIVERS MUST PRACTICE DEFENSIVE DRIVING. ALWAYS BE AWARE. PAY ATTENTION. If you CAN’T, then there are some lovely buses I suggest you check out. It’s not worth putting the lives of people just walking on the street, or yours for that matter, at risk.

Until DRIVERS get that, PEDESTRIANS will continue to try and STILL get hurt! Teenagers don’t get the true dangers until something like this happens. My BEST FRIEND was hit and killed when she was only 16. To this day, no one who knew her (that I still talk to at least) puts their lives in the hands of the drivers on the road.

I’m so glad she’s expected to survive!

jeanette September 6, 2008 (2:44 pm)

Im so sorry about your daughter, I cant even imagine how you must feel ,how blessed you are that your daughter survived this terrible accident,thank god she was being watched by up above. As far as the driver I am sure this was a total shock to them and i hope you can deal with this