Update: Out-of-control pickup hits cars in Junction, driver hurt

(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL 7:02 PM REPORT: On the way to check out a crash at California/Alaska – Leighellen reports via Facebook that the medic response has blocked the intersection, so if you’re heading that way, try 42nd or 44th till there’s word the scene’s clear.

7:09 PM UPDATE: We’re getting closer and – as GenHillOne also notes in comments – this apparently is in the block of California between Alaska and Oregon. More shortly.

7:18 PM UPDATE: See comments for an eyewitness report. The wrecked pickup has been cleared now and one lane of traffic is getting through southbound on that block, but half the road between Alaska and Oregon is still blocked by investigating officers (and there’s some cleanup that’ll need to be done on the streets too). Police confirm that the pickup driver has been taken to the hospital to be checked for possible head and back injuries, though they won’t say officially what may have caused him to hit other cars – how many other cars, we don’t have a total, though comments and e-mails have described anything from 5 to 20 – they’re on the east side of California. Thanks again to everyone who has e-mailed, Tweeted, and FB’ed with info about this – as well as those continuing to add eyewitness reports to comments.

7:50 PM: Adding photos above and below from WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli:

The northbound lane is still blocked by the investigation. We also got a call from Amy T, who had an incredibly close call – she was in her just-bought car at the California/Alaska intersection when the driver passed her apparently just before hitting the cars in the next block. In addition to the witness reports in comments below, via e-mail, Karla says, “I can NOT get that noise and smell of the smoke out of my head! It was truly the most incredible accident I have ever witnessed. I’m still shaking!” And we talked at the scene with Friends and Company owner Doris Goulet, whose car was among those hit; she echoes that it’s amazing nobody else was hurt – most stores were still open when this happened, and the pickup could just as easily have plowed into a store.

8:20 PM UPDATE: Yet another eyewitness report from Mark, via FB:

I was just there and saw it right after it happened. It looked like the driver of a Dodge 4X4 lost his right front wheel right just north of the intersection of California & Alaska. The truck kept going north smashing into at least eight cars parked at the curb – some with minor damage, some undriveable. It skipped some and hit others as it apparently swerved right again and again due to the missing wheel. The truck stopped at California & Oregon, where I saw the ambulance workers pull out the driver, who looked to be a middle-aged man, and load him onto a gurney. He was alive and moving when they loaded him into the ambulance.

LATE-NIGHT NOTE: We will check with police first thing in the morning to see what updates are available regarding the driver’s status and the total number of damaged vehicles, among other questions.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Official final total from Officer Mark Jamieson in the SPD media unit: 13 vehicles damaged, in addition to the 35-year-old driver’s truck:

(photo by Mark Ammann, added Tuesday)
The official summary of the incident doesn’t mention a possible medical problem as was being investigated at the scene last night as a possible factor, but focuses on suspected “impairment,” for which a blood sample taken last night will be tested. The driver of the first vehicle he hit also was treated at a hospital for possible back pain. As for official charges/citations, the decision on that will come later – once the collision investigators’ report is finished, it’s usually forwarded to prosecutors for that official decision on charges/citations, which might take weeks or months.

TUESDAY MIDDAY: Here’s how the police media unit tells the story at SPDBlotter.

29 Replies to "Update: Out-of-control pickup hits cars in Junction, driver hurt"

  • GenHillOne March 9, 2009 (7:06 pm)

    I think the whole block from Alaska to Oregon is closed. One car, a pick-up, is at the north end of the block, but we saw a lot of activity around the Jaks area too before we went around to 42nd and then west on Oregon. Surprised to see 911 log only list as medic response, lots of police and firetrucks.

  • Snow Comments March 9, 2009 (7:10 pm)

    Saw Medic vehicle and police vehile with lights flashing leaving WS. Then passed through the junction with activity at Calif. & Alaska, mid block in front of Jak’s and activity (the pick up truck & tow truck) at Calif. and Oregon. Police cars positioned at all three points.

  • RandyW March 9, 2009 (7:13 pm)

    Dodge Pickup missing right front wheel had tagged several cars on its way north from Jaks. Saw at least four or five vehicles that were hit by the pickup along the northbound side. Vehicle stopped at California and Oregon. Fire/aid on scene with lots of police to block off the path of the pickup, which left a long trail of fluid and skid marks. Driver of the pickup must have been going fast to leave that kind of trail of destruction….

  • DownTheStreet March 9, 2009 (7:15 pm)

    I was in Village Woodworks when this happened. Pick-up driver reportedly had seizure somewhere around Talarico’s and careened through the intersection at California and Alaska then proceeded to hit several parked cars while continuing north on California. Finally came to a stop at Oregon.

    From within Village Woodworks, it sounded like a train was coming. Then he rear-ended a parked Volvo wagon right in front of the store – causing significant damage. Amazing that he kept going another half block or more.

    Even more amazing that it appears there are no serious injuries, other than the driver.

    Crazy.

  • Spud March 9, 2009 (7:16 pm)

    Rumor on the street is that a drive had a seizure while driving. I walked by and saw 5 to 7 cars hit along the Jak’s/Matador side of California…

  • brenda March 9, 2009 (7:16 pm)

    it appears that a whole block of cars was side swipped on the east side of California ave. Can’t tell how it happened.

  • Colleen March 9, 2009 (7:18 pm)

    Crazy–you can still get southbound on Calif (as of 5 mins ago) as I drove home from Anytime Fitness. Lots of cars hit—the volo was pretty smashed up, and someone’s wheel is out in front of Jaks.

  • GenHillOne March 9, 2009 (7:21 pm)

    I think the tire belonged to the pick-up; it was missing one and also pretty destroyed. Hope the driver is okay and so glad no others seem to be hurt.

  • Kjones March 9, 2009 (7:36 pm)

    I was southbound on California, at approximately the Post Office and saw the whole thing unfold before my eyes. It was horrifying.

  • livingonthebeach March 9, 2009 (7:38 pm)

    That’s amazing he is OK, thank goodness no one was hurt.

  • JenV March 9, 2009 (7:44 pm)

    thank goodness it was only cars that were hit. This could have been tragic if he had plowed into a business.

  • bos March 9, 2009 (7:45 pm)

    On the scanner SPD says 13 cars hit….

  • EmmyJane March 9, 2009 (7:46 pm)

    Was in a shop and heard/saw. DownTheStreet is accurate. In addition to the Volvo, there was a truck rear ended- I believe the driver of the green truck rear-ended that truck on the Talaricos block then kept going another block. After he hit the Volvo, the damage to the cars on the side of the road gets worse. I walked the whole block after it happened and counted 7 parked cars hit, the rear-ended truck makes 8, and the green truck hitting them all makes 9. The driver of the green truck lost his tire by Jak’s but made it the whole rest of the block.

    The paramedics pulled him from his truck about 15 minutes after it all happened and he was conscious.

  • Jo March 9, 2009 (8:00 pm)

    I was at the light on the Junction–the driver apparently had a seizure and came from behind me–hitting the truck next to me sending it east on Alaska. At least 6 to 7 other cars were hit before he careened to a stop at Oregon.The driver also lost a tire and axel right by Jaks. It was unbelievable no one was hurt. The 911 operateror said calls were made immediately. I hope the driver will be okay.

  • Karla March 9, 2009 (8:06 pm)

    I was outside of Maharaja and heard the impact at the alaska intersection. that is where it began when the pickup rearended a bigger one. the one that was hit, turned right on alaska to pull over and the other pickup gunned his veh and hit the first parked car and his entire wheel came off. at that point I lost the view of the front of his vehicle but heard the scraping and saw him pass me and hit a volvo station wagon and keep on going. the cars parked along california were hit. debris flew everywhere. I had to run into Maharaja to avoid being hit by debris. it was awful. I am still hearing that scraping noise and smelling the burning cars and antifreeze smell. NO ONE was in the cross walk thank God! I spoke with the guy in the first pick up that was hit and it appears that he is the only one injured besides the driver.

  • M. March 9, 2009 (8:21 pm)

    Man, is it just me, or has today just been a really weird day?

  • Krystal March 9, 2009 (8:45 pm)

    M, today has been super weird. Even my friend in LA has had a weird day.

  • Ken March 9, 2009 (9:46 pm)

    Apparently the step daughter was parked in the slot just beyond the first 7 damaged cars.

    Her car is 16 years old, has a busted motor mount and is fully insured.

    I am guessing that is what saved it.

  • Jiggers March 10, 2009 (2:30 am)

    It’s full moon tonight.

  • beatrice March 10, 2009 (8:29 am)

    This was a horrible event and it’s true that a lot worse could have happened. However – I think it’s a false statement to say “no one was hurt” as my friend came out to a car that was un-driveable! He’s a single dad, had to pick up his teenaged daughter (couldn’t) and his 9 year old son, who was then left alone, scared. He has only minimal insurance & literally no money. So, this morning he has no way to take his kids to school or get to work. He has no idea how long it will all take to resolve with the driver’s insurance, but I think we all can imagine. This will definitely hurt him & already has.

  • miws March 10, 2009 (11:05 am)

    beatrice, My guess is that people are mostly referring to the fact that nobody, other than the driver, was physiaclly hurt.

    .

    But yes, it’s easy to forget the other ways people can be affected in situations like this when it was “just a car” that was damaged. And how scary for the 9 year old!

    .

    I well understand tough money situations, and this Father and his kids have my best wishes in dealing with this.

    .

    Mike

  • EmmyJane March 10, 2009 (6:27 pm)

    Beatrice- I’d be happy to help your friend in any way- pick up/deliver the kids for a couple days until he can work something out? I would definitely work something out to meet him ahead of time so he knows I’m not some scary crazy person trying to get his kids alone! I’m a CPA and used to be a nanny and would like to help because I think the best way to deal with a bad event is to counteract it with lots of good events!

    let me know if i can help: hcrea@gonzaga.edu

  • BORN&RAISED WEST SEATTLEITE March 10, 2009 (6:41 pm)

    WOW… you can’t park or party in the Junction anymore. Hope all that were effected by this will be ok!!

  • montrose March 10, 2009 (9:11 pm)

    I’m not sure about the “seizure” part of the driver. I was in Talaricos when an “enraged” man flipped off the bartender and stormed off. Per people in the bar that man was “disturbed”. Next thing, I know 15 minutes later the Junction looks like a train wreck. I did not say this man did it. However, it could be related. If it is the same guy, that was in Talaricos then I feel sorry for the place. Seems like it is snake bit or something.

    Was it rage against what is happening with the “current state” of the world or just a “seiezure”? I guess the evidence will prove out.

  • beatrice March 10, 2009 (9:14 pm)

    West Seattle Blog always brings out the best folks. I will definitely pass on the info to my friend – hope it will make him smile at least. Thanks, guys.

  • WSB March 10, 2009 (9:15 pm)

    As I noted this morning, that is no longer in the police summary, and at tonight’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting, Lt. Paulsen from SW Precinct said it definitely looked like a case of alleged DUI though he did not have results on BA tests, which sometimes wind up in the original police report if they are done breath test at the scene (but in this case, SPD told me this am it was a blood draw) … TR

  • KEM March 28, 2009 (2:01 pm)

    Is there any update on this?

  • WSB March 28, 2009 (2:17 pm)

    It will be a little tougher to find out since I never had the driver’s name, but not impossible. Will put on my list for Monday – TR

  • KEM March 29, 2009 (8:44 pm)

    Thanks TR!

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