West Seattle, Washington
11 Thursday
8:47 PM: It’s often the clouds that make a sunset spectacular … even if they seem ominous. Our somewhat stormy evening brought dark-cloud views in two directions – above, Jacqueline’s photo looking westward; below, Lise’s photo looking to the northeast:
Thanks for sharing!
9:28 PM: We should mention, these clouds brought big rain to some other parts of the area. And even more beautiful sights here – Mark Dale has shared this:
Newest forecast says clearer, warmer weather will return, so summer’s not quite done yet.
9:50 PM: And shortly after we updated … the rain began here, in earnest, as you are probably well aware!
“It’s amazing!” That’s what we heard one new Fairmount Park Elementary student exclaim while walking the school’s halls after this afternoon’s standing-room-only ribboncutting event celebrating the school’s expansion and reopening after a seven-year closure. You might have gotten a sense of that amazement, checking out some of the features shown in our walkthrough story earlier today. But it’s the school’s community – with more than 380 students expected tomorrow, 40 or so above the most-recent estimate we had – that is most astounding. Principal Julie Breidenbach pointed out it was a leap of faith for many families who already had started their children’s elementary years elsewhere, and that it’s more than double what the district expected the school to re-start with:
She was joined onstage by dignitaries including the district’s new acting Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland, and West Seattle’s School Board rep Marty McLaren:
Even West Seattle’s highest-ranking elected official, King County Executive Dow Constantine, was there, and he shared reminiscences including his memories of some involvement with Fairmount Park’s first phase of life, as well as some thoughts as a new dad who’ll be taking his daughter to her first day of school in a few years.
So much work has gone into “breathing life into the new building,” pointed out interim PTA president Hillary Shaw:
Those weren’t even all the speeches – but we have to get to the main event: The ribboncutting itself, which came after words of acknowledgment from principal Breidenbach and district construction-projects manager Jeanette Imanishi.
The event even had dessert – ice cream, served in the cafeteria/auditorium – and then it was off to look around:
Students and families got to meet teachers, too:
All the while, finishing touches were continuing – we spotted this worker painting lines on the north playground:
Tomorrow morning, it’s the real deal – time for school, again, at Fairmount Park. (And remember, that also means a school speed zone on Fauntleroy Way for the first time since 2007.) P.S. Other schools have changes too, including bell times, and we’ll be looking at those in a story later tonight.
(August 27 photo by BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES, republished by permission)
4:06 PM: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just filed charges against Estevan Sanchez, accused of stealing an SUV from outside the Seamart store in Highland Park last Wednesday, with its owner’s baby daughter in the back seat; the car was ditched in the middle of a street in Greenbridge, with the baby still inside. Sanchez, a 25-year-old Highland Park resident, is charged with second-degree kidnapping and theft of a motor vehicle. As first reported here the night of his arrest, he already had warrants out in connection with domestic-violence cases involving his longtime girlfriend – one relating to an incident this past June in which he allegedly stole her car. “His dangerous and callous actions demonstrate a total disregard for human life and the safety of the entire community,” prosecutors write in the charging documents. More to come.
ADDED 4:24 PM: More from the charging papers’ narrative, signed by deputy prosecuting attorney Ian Ith:
Announced by Mayor Murray this afternoon:
As parents ready their kids for the first week of school, Mayor Ed Murray today unveiled his plan to reorganize of the city’s education and support programs into a new Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL), the first of several proposals the mayor will make in his first city budget.
The new structure will enable the city to better coordinate existing work and resources on behalf of students of all ages, improve collaboration with Seattle Public Schools, colleges and child-care providers, and increase performance measurement of the city’s work to support educational outcomes.
Unpleasant surprise for a West Seattle couple whose SUV was stolen while they were away for the holiday weekend. But maybe you can help them get it back, if you see it. From Rebecca:
My boyfriend and I arrived home last night to discover his car stolen and we made a police report. According to our landlord, the car has been gone for a “couple days,” so we are guessing it was stolen Sat night after we left town. It is a dark blue ’90s Isuzu Rodeo and has a W. SEA sticker on the back window and his back license plate cover says “Patrick” on it. It also has some paint damage on the driver-side door. There was no glass on the ground in the area it was parked, so we are assuming none of the windows were busted out.
Please call 911 with any info on its whereabouts.
ADDED: Found – see comments.
(Renovated hallway in original FPES building. WSB photos by Tracy Record)
In about four hours, on the day before classes begin for 2014-2015, Seattle Public Schools‘ new acting superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland will be in West Seattle. He’ll join in a ribboncutting ceremony at newly expanded/renovated Fairmount Park Elementary School (3800 SW Findlay; map), reopening after a seven-year closure. We showed you photos of the completed overhaul two weeks ago (thanks again, Joe!). Then last week, we had the chance for a guided walkthrough with SPS construction-project manager Jeanette Imanishi (whom we last met for a walkthrough at the renovated Boren Building two years ago, before K-5 STEM opened there). Both the old building and the new wing to its east are full of light and color, whether you look up at the colored glass letting light into a stairwell:
Or across the courtyard, at new tile accents outside (replacing old panels that contained asbestos, which was removed from other features of the old building too, including its floors):
Or down, at the refinished gym floor, where equipment awaits the students:
The gym also sports a water-bottle filler:
Updated technology touches are everywhere – note these outlets dangling from the ceiling:
It’s September, and the community groups that took all or part of the summer off would usually be getting back to their normal schedules. But two of them have a different plan for this month. Tonight, the first Tuesday, would usually be the regular meeting night for Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, but here’s what’s on the schedule instead, as announced by Joe Szilagyi:
One more month of a slightly different WWRHAH schedule!
No meeting tonight as we’ve mentioned — the next one will be a joint meeting with the Highland Park Action Committee at their meeting space on Wednesday, September 24 at 630 pm. This meeting will be dedicated to and focusing on Seattle Police across our two areas and South Delridge. Bring your questions — we’ll have all the key staff from the Southwest Precinct there!
Meeting: HPAC & WWRHAH joint SPD meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Time: 630 pm-830 pm
Location: Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW HoldenHere’s the Facebook event if you want to join that or share it.
If you live in one of those areas and have concerns/questions for SPD, that meeting will be particularly crucial, as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has canceled its September meeting because of health challenges among its leadership.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
First day after summer’s last holiday weekend, and the weather is certainly fall-ish. While tomorrow is the biggest back-to-school day, some start this morning:
WHO’S BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY: Some independent schools start the new year today, including Holy Rosary (noon dismissal), Hope Lutheran, Our Lady of Guadalupe. *Added* And via Twitter, @SudsyMaggie reminds us that Vashon Island schools are back today too – some WS kids commute to them via the Fauntleroy ferry.
REMINDER – NEW SPEEDING-TICKET CAMERAS ON ROXBURY: When you see flashing school-zone lights on Roxbury this week, that also will mean the new speeding-ticket cameras by Holy Family (20th/Roxbury) and Roxhill Elementary (30th/Roxbury) are in operation. (Added: HF zone is in effect today – Roxhill, not until tomorrow:)
The city has said the first month’s tickets will be warnings, and then in October, the grace period’s over.
OVERNIGHT LANE CLOSURES ON HIGHWAY 99: Announced late last week:
Tuesday, Sept. 2 to Friday, Sept. 5
· Crews will reduce southbound SR 99 to one lane between South Atlantic Street and South Spokane Street from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.
Tuesday, Sept. 2; Thursday, Sept. 4 – Friday, Sept. 5
· Crews will reduce northbound SR 99 to one lane between South Spokane Street and South Atlantic Street from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:18 PM: Another big police/fire response – this time an “automobile rescue” call at Highland Park Way/West Marginal Way SW. This also involved an SPD officer, per Twitter.
9:35 PM: SFD has extricated the officer. Three other people are reported hurt.
10:09 PM: We have just talked at the scene with SPD night commander Capt. David Proudfoot. He says the car was coming down the hill to a ‘fast backup’ call in South Park when the officer apparently lost control, hit the pole, ricocheted into a passing car.
4 people taken to the hospital, no major injuries.
11:04 PM: Another update – Seattle Fire now says there were five people in the car with which the SPD officer collided.
both vehicles in view now that @seattlefire E-26 left pic.twitter.com/KMGEYPjqr3
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 2, 2014
The driver, in her 30s, went to the hospital along with three girls, two 8 year olds and a 9 year old. A 1-year-old boy in the car was taken home by his dad, SFD says. Investigators are likely to be on Highland Park Way a while longer; when we left, Seattle City Light was also there checking on the pole and wires.
12:47 AM: A summary is on SPD Blotter; the only update from the briefing at the scene is further clarification of how the two vehicles collided – that the SPD car had gone backward into the pole and was then hit by the other car.
(Added: WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:50 PM: Just a quick mention while we’re gathering details – two incidents involving police right now in south West Seattle, don’t know yet if they are at all related. There is a crash at 35th and Barton and a foot chase near the 8800 block of Delridge. More details as we get them. Both are likely to be affecting traffic on those major arterials.
(WSB photo by Tracy Record)
6:12 PM: The crash, involving police, is at 35th/Barton, and 35th is blocked north of the intersection. No injuries, we are told at scene. Meantime, a reportedly carjacked vehicle was abandoned in South Delridge, and that’s what the search is about.
6:47 PM: Back from both scenes.
Medics have now been called to 35th/Barton to check out an 11-year-old girl who was in the civilian car that collided with a police vehicle – she is reported to have neck pain.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
That car (above) is currently in the parking lot of Tony’s Market; 35th remains closed at that spot, just north of Barton.
(WSB photo by Tracy Record)
The stolen car (above) was abandoned blocks away in an alley. No arrest yet. Police told WSB’s Christopher Boffoli that it was stolen outside West Seattle.
7:09 PM: SPD has just confirmed that the officer involved in 35th/Barton collision was indeed headed to carjacker search, and that the 11-year-old has been taken to the hospital.
8:25 PM: Our partners at The Seattle Times have a bit more detail on exactly how the collision happened – quoting police as saying the officer was headed south in case the suspect being tracked on Delridge headed west, but then got word of a direction change, so was U-turning at 35th/Barton when the collision happened.
9 PM: 35th is still closed north of Barton while investigators work.
11:07 PM: Thanks to commenter “Hosedown” for the update that 35th is open again. Meantime, SPD Blotter has just published the full summary of how this happened, including details of the carjacking incident that started it all, and news that the driver who hit the SPD car at 35th/Barton is suspected of DUI:
A woman called 911 to report two men stole her car while she left it running in the 2700 block of 4th Ave. South.
Plainclothes officers in the area quickly located the car and requested marked patrol units to stop the car. When officers tried to pull the car over at 21st Ave. SW and SW Henderson St. the occupants jumped out and ran away on foot. Officers flooded the area, but were unable to capture either suspect.
An officer responding to the call for help made a U-turn at 35 Ave. SW and SW Barton St. using his lights and sirens stopping all traffic. The officer had completed his turn when a vehicle broadsided the police car on the passenger side.
Seattle Fire Department medics responded and evaluated the officer, other driver, and her 11-year-old female passenger. The girl complained of a headache and nausea and was transported to Harborview Medical Center via ambulance. The officer was uninjured in the collision.
A Drug Recognition Expert was called to the scene to evaluate the driver, who was eventually arrested for driving under the influence.
Officers continue to search for the original carjacking suspects. They are described as a mid 30’s white male, 6 foot, 180 pounds and unshaven. The second suspect is described as a 30-year-old black male, 6 foot and 180 pounds.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to please call 911 and speak with officers.
(Mashiko’s Hajime Sato, photographed in 2009 by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
For all the times we write about restaurant openings and closures … here’s one making news because it’s hit a milestone. Mashiko in The Junction just noted via Facebook that today is the 20th anniversary of its opening. Mashiko reached a new level of acclaim five years ago when proprietor Hajime Sato made waves by dedicating his entire restaurant to sustainable seafood. (Two years later, he spoke about it at a Sustainable West Seattle event covered here.) Tonight’s Facebook note says, “Hajime is grateful to everyone who has been a part of his journey.” Congratulations to Chef Sato and Mashiko on their 20th!
3:53 PM: Big Seattle Fire response on the way to the 2800 block of Alki Avenue SW, for a report of a swimmer possibly in trouble.
3:57 PM: A swimmer has been spotted but first crews on scene says s/he does NOT appear to be in trouble, so they’re canceling most of the units. SFD is also turning back the fireboat they were starting to send through the Ballard Locks.
Remember Nicholas Broughton, who crashed a stolen car through a fence near a relative’s home in The Junction back in January? Just days after he struck a plea bargain in that case and an earlier identity-theft case, it’s confirmed that he is the man police were looking for last night in the 35th/Myrtle area. Washington’s Most Wanted reports that Broughton, 33, and girlfriend Jennifer Lasky were the targets of the search. She was arrested and is in jail in connection with a $3,000 Pierce County warrant (for failure to appear in court in connection with a driving-with-suspended-license charge). He is still on the run.
Online records show Broughton was in court just last week to plead guilty to reduced charges in the two cases facing him. The first case involves that January night when he drove an SUV, stolen from Tacoma, through a fence near a relative’s home southwest of The Junction. The vehicle had come to police’s attention because it was equipped with LoJack. When charges were filed, Broughton was described as “an 11-time felon.”
Two weeks later, a judge let him out on bail; just weeks after that, Broughton was charged in a separate case, accused of identity theft related to credit/debit cards stolen in multiple car prowls, with at least one West Seattle victim.
After a failure to appear in court, a warrant was issued for him, and Broughton was re-arrested. He was in jail until mid-July, and was scheduled to go on trial this week, but the trial was canceled when he struck a plea bargain involving both aforementioned cases, and a reduction of charges. Documents show he was in court last Friday related to that, pleading guilty to the reduced charges – two counts of second-degree identity theft, one each of hit-and-run and possession of a stolen vehicle (a lesser charge than auto theft). The plea bargain also included a charge of criminal trespass, but documents say that is to be dismissed at his sentencing, which is scheduled for September 26th. It’s too soon to say how/whether this latest skirmish with police will affect that case. Meantime, WMW says there’s a reward out for him, and you can call 911 or 800-222-TIPS if you have information.
(Photo courtesy Free2Luv)
With both the Seahawks‘ season and the school year starting, an anti-bullying campaign is launching with a West Seattle-based nonprofit at the heart of it. On the lower right of the billboard in the photo, you’ll see FREE2LUV.ORG – the online home of Free2Luv, which is leading the “Friends Don’t Let Friends Bully” campaign. The photo and announcement (read the full version here) were shared by Free2Luv president/co-founder Tonya Sandis of Alki. Donated billboard space is part of it; the first one, Tonya says, is at 4th Avenue South and South Industrial Way, just a few blocks south of the West Seattle Bridge (map): “With the rise in teen suicides and one out of every three children experiencing some form of bullying, it is Free2Luv’s mission to reach as many communities and children as possible to spread the word Friends Don’t Let Friends Bully. … We are passionate about creating a safer and kinder place for our youth, raising self-esteem and re-instilling hope.” Free2Luv says more than 19,000 people have taken their anti-bullying pledge; you can join them here.
(Photo by ‘Hammerin’ Man,’ shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Happy Labor Day! Just a few notes about the holiday …
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION INFO
Since many people are off work today, we’re not publishing the usual daily traffic/transit roundup. You can see area traffic cams and get info (including a link to the city map with travel times) on the WSB West Seattle Traffic page.
*Metro Transit is on a Sunday schedule
*West Seattle Water Taxi is on a Sunday schedule
*Sound Transit buses are on a Sunday schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be on a weekend schedule
TRASH/RECYCLING PICKUP: If you are a Monday customer, SPU says it’s a normal pickup day.
SEATTLE PARKS: Here’s the citywide Parks lineup for what’s open/closed. Including:
LAST DAY FOR WADING POOL/SPRAYPARK: It’s the final day of the season for the last wading pool in operation, Lincoln Park, and for Highland Park Spraypark. Both are scheduled to be open 11 am-8 pm today. (If you go to the spraypark, you can explore astronomy too!) **9:46 am update: It’s not wading-pool weather, so the pools won’t open, and are done for the season, the city says, but adds that the sprayparks WILL open today.**
THIRD-TO-LAST DAY FOR COLMAN POOL: West Seattle’s outdoor pool, on the shore in Lincoln Park, ends its daily operations after today, with just one encore, the post-season September 6-7 weekend. So if you’ve been meaning to get to Colman, here’s the schedule.
LIBRARIES: It’s a systemwide closure day for the Seattle Public Library.
‘PARKING HOLIDAY’: Though West Seattle has no pay stations/meters on city streets, in the neighborhoods that do, this is a “parking holiday” – no charge.
BUSINESSES OPEN TODAY: Though we didn’t put out a general call for info, several businesses did take the time to message us with word they’re open (thank you!):
*Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) – Open 7 am-6 pm
*The Bridge – Open for brunch, 9 am-2 pm “with both of our patios open” (and then open with regular menu until usual close)
*Pizzeria 22 and Quadrato – Both open regular hours
*Avalon Glassworks – Open 10 am-6 pm
EVENT CALENDAR: Quiet for the holiday, but you’re welcome to take a minute and browse ahead.
The latest roundup of events coming up at historic, almost-century-old Kenyon Hall in West Seattle includes more than just a lineup of performances: Next Saturday, September 6th, it’s an an all-day, drop-in Bluegrass Barbecue Fundraising Festival, benefiting the hall’s “Flush Fund.” As explained in the announcement:
We’re raising money for our Flush Fund (the bathrooms do need upgrading!) with a Festival of Great Food, Drink, and Music. For high-quality comestibles, we’ve engaged the catering services of our next-door neighbors, Locöl Barley & Vine. Chef Charlie has conjured up a special menu for the grill, accompanied by Locöl’s artisan wine and beer. There’ll be plenty of food, wine and beer for purchase, and after expenses, all proceeds will benefit the Kenyon Hall Flush Fund. Four local Bluegrass bands will alternate with complementary sets at the Mighty Wurlitzer. This is a 21-and-over event. No reservations are necessary. Please come on by and help us with our upgrade
$15 is the admission charge for next Saturday’s festival, which will run noon-8 pm. Never been to Kenyon Hall? It’s at 7904 35th SW. (Photo: WSB files)
8:39 PM: Just in case you’ve seen the police search near Myrtle Reservoir Park – police tell us they are looking for someone they had pulled over who turned out to have a warrant out for his arrest, and took off running.
9:04 PM: No arrest yet, but we’re continuing to monitor.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s an update.
Sometimes, the time post-Labor Day feels like a mini-New Year of sorts … a time for new beginnings, and we don’t just mean the start of school. Here’s something that’s getting started just after Labor Day in West Seattle: Shambhala Meditation. From Susan:
West Seattle Shambhala Meditation group offers meditation sessions on Tuesday evenings at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (across from the Delridge Community Center and Skatepark). Whether you are new to meditation or are an old hand, and regardless of your religious affiliation, you are welcome to join us!
We offer meditation instruction, group meditation, and a space for discussion and exploration of topics related to our practice, and a supportive community. Through our meditation, we develop the possibility of meeting our everyday activities with awareness, peace, wisdom, compassion, and a sense of humor.
Ongoing Series (every Tuesday evening)
6:20-6:30 PM: Meditation Instruction
6:30-7:30 PM: Meditation
7:30-8:00 PM: Guest Speaker or Group Discussion
8:00-8:30 PM: Social time and refreshments
Check their online calendar first, in case of changes. They’re in the south classroom at Youngstown, which is at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
4:38 PM: Big Seattle Fire response for a possible fire at a house on SW Ida just west of 35th SW (map). First crews to arrive aren’t seeing anything. More to come.
4:54 PM: Small kitchen fire at a house on the south side of SW Ida, quickly put out. The elderly resident who was cooking when it happened is being taken to the hospital to be checked out.
Photos are in from two events in The Junction last night (both featured in our “West Seattle Saturday” preview) …
ON THE RUNWAY: Thanks to Unified Outreach for the photo from its youth-organized “Urban Hollywood Meets Seattle” runway show last night at the West Seattle Christian Events Center. Here’s the accompanying summary:
Side note: UO points out that MAC Fashion House‘s Carlisia Minnis, third from left in the photo, was a newsmaker this past week – for helping rescue the baby left in a stolen SUV when a car thief abandoned it in the middle of a White Center street (see her in the KING5.com coverage).
IN THE STORE: Standing-room-only at Easy Street Records as The Posies played a set:
That photo is courtesy of King County Councilmember Joe McDermott (who we bumped into at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market; he mentioned he’d been to the show, and agreed to share a photo). Also at the show, Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems – just up the street from Easy Street – who photographed the cool poster:
“Failure” is The Posies’ 1988 debut, just re-released.
P.S. To preview what else is ahead in West Seattle, you can check our calendar any time.
Two weeks from today, the newly expanded West Seattle Car Show will be happening in the heart of The Junction. You still have time to sign up if you’re interested in showing off your wheels; this year it’s “open class” – cars, trucks, motorcycles of all years welcome! – an expansion from past years in which registration was limited to “classic” cars only. If you’ve missed our previous previews, the new organizers are Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors), taking over the show in tribute to its founder, the late Michael Hoffman. It’s happening 10 am-4 pm on Sunday, September 14th, and you can go here to sign up now! If you would rather not register online, get your form by e-mailing wscarshow@gmail.com or calling 206.938.8685. (WSB is a WS Car Show sponsor again this year, as we’ve been since it launched in 2008 – see you there!)
(Photo courtesy US Coast Guard Auxiliary: Summer visitors, with Auxiliarist Mike Brough)
Last day of August … and we’re spotlighting your last chance for something you can only do in the summertime:
FINAL DAY TO TOUR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: 1-3:45 pm today, and then that’s it until next summer. Here’s what happens when you visit (free!):
Coast Guard Auxiliary members escort you onto the site, show and tell about the history of the lighthouse and the advances in technology that have protected boaters for over a century. You can climb to the top of the tower if you are over age 6. For more information, visit www.cgauxseattle.org
(3201 Alki SW)
Also from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round, 10 am-2 pm today and every Sunday. (44th/Alaska)
COOKIE COUNTER: Remember the West Seattleites who crowdfunded their vegan-ice-cream-sandwich van? They’ve been up and running for a while but today is, so far as we can tell, their first official West Seattle stop. They’re scheduled to be in the Greentree Animal Hospital lot in The Junction, 11 am-4 pm. (4440 California SW)
CAT/KITTEN ADOPTIONS: FAF adoption event at Next to Nature in The Junction, 11:30 am-3:30 pm. (4543 California SW)
‘NOT ONE MORE’ REMEMBRANCE/RECOVERY WALK: Noon at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, meet for a remembrance/recovery walk to raise awareness and “educate families about the hazards of heroin and other drug abuse.” Details in our calendar listing. (61st/Alki)
MID-AFTERNOON MUSIC: Nathan Grant plays live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
SUNDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: West Seattle Brewing in The Triangle partners with online radio station KJRW for Sunday Night Trivia, 7:30 pm. Free to play; prizes awarded. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)
MORE NIGHTLIFE! See it on our calendar.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand, added 4:08 am)
FIRST REPORT, 3:17 AM: Big response to a fire in the 9800 block of Marine View Drive SW (map). First crews on scene say it looks like it involves a burning car.
3:29 AM UPDATE: This was originally dispatched as a house fire but so far we’ve only heard the car mentioned, with one person inside, who got out OK. They’ve already called for the SFD investigator and for a tow truck. Our crew should be there shortly for a firsthand look. Police are in the area and have Marine View Drive blocked off starting in the 9600 block.
3:47 AM UPDATE: Our crew learned at the scene that the burning car caught a tree on fire, close to a motor home, and that’s part of what prompted the big initial response (a commenter points this out too). Police are now questioning the driver, who is OK but “uncooperative,” for reasons yet unknown (added: and is apparently going to the hospital after all); the car went onto an embankment, and whether that was because of the fire or somehow caused the fire, isn’t known yet either. The car has major fire damage.
SUNDAY NOON UPDATE: We’ve updated the map link above; a nearby resident explains that Google Maps have a glitch and show this block as quite some distance south of where it actually is. (The address on SFD’s online log wasn’t the exact location anyway, which sometimes happens with fire calls, and is why we just use block numbers in stories.)
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