West Seattle, Washington
25 Friday
8:22 PM FRIDAY: Thanks for the tips. No serious injuries reported, but a harrowing close call according to witnesses, in a crash that ended in the carport under that building on Harbor Avenue.
Police at the scene weren’t commenting, but witnesses say a mechanical problem might have factored into the driver of that Jeep first speeding through the Seacrest parking lot and then crossing Harbor Avenue, ending up crashed into at least one car in the carport.
ADDED: Thanks to Jesse for the next two photos:
ADDED MONDAY: A summary released today by SPD affirms evidence of mechanical trouble:
At 1910 hours, a male was driving a rental at the 1600 BLK of Harbor Ave SW. The vehicle had mechanical issues and sped up. The driver pulled up the emergency brake when it sped up, but there were issues with that too. The driver struck a vehicle, METRO pole, and another vehicle. The vehicle pushed a vehicle up against an apartment building. SFST tests were conducted and the PBT was used, and the driver didn’t show signs of impairment. A collision report was completed, and there was evidence of mechanical issues on the vehicle.
2:16 PM: Fire and police personnel are rushing by sea and land to search for a diver who’s been reported missing, reported to have last been seen between Salty’s (1936 Harbor SW) and Marination (1660 Harbor SW).
2:21 PM: Emergency personnel report they’ve made contact with the diver who was feared missing, and the response is being canceled.
10:08 PM: Every Fourth of July, right about now, we start live-chronicling what police/fire responders are handling. And as usual, it’s busy. For one, police have just implemented a traffic plan and are blocking Harbor/Alki to traffic beyond what’s already there. If you’re headed that way – don’t, until the Lake Union fireworks are over and things start clearing out 11-ish. More to come …
10:18 PM: The traffic-blocking was related to a felony incident they’re just wrapping up, also requiring a tow truck to impound a vehicle. The vast majority of Southwest Precinct activity these past few hours has been in the Alki area. And now there’s a foot pursuit near Duwamish Head involving possibly armed suspects, 1300 block Alki SW, “possibly a strong-arm robbery, six juveniles.”
10:33 PM: Now police have a reported juvenile suspect “barricaded in a bathroom” toward the north end of California SW (they’re trying to straighten out the location)…. Meantime, if you’re wandering, there’s been virtually no mention of fireworks, trouble or otherwise, over the air, for quite some time, though plenty are being set off here in Fauntleroy and certainly elsewhere. … The aforementioned California SW standoffresponse is described as inside an apartment building.
11:40 PM: Thanks to commenters who solved the standoff situation – 7100 California, not 1700. Not a juvenile. And lots of fireworks calls now. … “Car fire” SFD response at California/Oregon.
12:45 AM: Stabbing in 7700 block 17th SW, The victim is a 17-year-old girl.
5:00 AM: Here’s the SPD summary of last night’s major arrest on Alki:
At 2000 hours, Officers were flagged down on Alki Av SW by a victim. The victim stated that an unknown suspect brandished a firearm at the victim, and he felt fearful for his life. Officers quickly checked the area and located the suspect that the victim positively identified on Alki Av Sw. Officers placed the suspect into custody and recovered a firearm on the suspect. The suspect was transported to KCJ and booked for Felony Harassment.
We don’t have further info about the stabbing yet but will add it when we do.
5:13 AM: Just off the Harbor exit of the westbound bridge, police are trying to contact suspect(s) in a car after stopping it via PIT following a 90 mph-pursuit from somewhere east of West Seattle. Haven’t heard what they pursued for, but they’re calling for reinforcements. … Update: That’s the Harbor ISLAND exit, officers are telling dispatch, and they have one person in custody.
5:42 AM: The Harbor Island exits from the bridge and 99 will be blocked while this investigation – with a revised location, Spokane/Klickitat beneath the bridge – continues. One snippet of info, it involved a gun.
6:25 AM: The exits have reopened. And we’ve also heard it noted that this incident – which, again, started outside West Seattle – involved a burglary.
11:14 AM: SFD says the stabbing victim was in stable condition when transported. We don’t have police info on the case yet.
1:03 PM: Here’s what police just posted to SPD Blotter:
Seattle police detectives are investigating the violent stabbing of a 17-year-old girl in the Delridge neighborhood in West Seattle this morning.
At about 12:20 a.m., patrol officers responded to reports of a burglary and assault in the 7100 block of 17th Avenue Southwest. When police arrived, they found blood on the door and made immediate entry into the house believing the suspects were still inside.
Inside, they found the victim with multiple stab wounds all over her body and she had significant blood loss. Officers pulled her to safety, and the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) provided her with medical treatment. SFD transported her to Harborview Medical Center in serious, but stable condition.
Patrol officers set up a security perimeter around the house until the Hostage Negotiation Team and the SWAT team arrived on scene. Officers applied for a search warrant, and it was signed by a judge. Ultimately, SWAT searched the house, but they did not find the suspects.
While investigating, officers learned the teen suspects, a boy and girl, ran from the house before officers arrived. The circumstances leading up to the violent assault are under investigation. If anyone has information, they are asked to the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Anonymous tips are accepted.
Detectives in the Homicide and Assault Unit are assigned to this case.
Incident Number: 2025-187428
7:44 PM SATURDAY: Another SPD Blotter post tonightreveals an arrest for one of last night’s other incidents in the wider Alki area; most “suspected shots fired” calls last night were fireworks, but not this one:
On July 4, at about 9:00 p.m., patrol officers responded to reports of someone shooting out of the sunroof of a car in the 2400 block of Harbor Avenue Southwest. There, police located a shell casing and interviewed witnesses. There were no reported injuries or property damage.
While investigating, officers found the suspect driving nearby on Harbor Avenue Southwest and performed a high-risk traffic stop. Police detained all the occupants while they further investigated. Officers could see a bullet shell casing on the rear floorboard of the car.
Ultimately, police determined the driver to be the shooter, and they arrested him. The two passengers were investigated and released. Officers impounded the car to the Vehicle Processing Room for further evidence search.
Police booked the suspect (23 years old) into the King County Jail for Investigation of Drive-By Shooting.
6:21 PM: If you’re heading toward the 1st Avenue South Bridge, you might want to wait a while. There’s an emergency response at the onramp on the south end of the northbound bridge, after a driver reportedly went into the retention pond alongside the ramp. The water is reported to be only about two feet deep so they’ve downsized this from the originally dispatched rescue response.
6:25 PM: According to SFD, “Crews were not able to find any occupants inside or around the vehicle.”
… This is the closest traffic camera, but it’s WSDOT, not SDOT, and doesn’t enlarge clearly.
12:55 AM: In case you wondered about thr sirens, SFD had a “fire in building” response for 30th/Henderson, but it turned out to be minor, and everyone’s been dismissed. … (Update) Turned out to be a “small propane stove, turned on.”
12:32 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “rescue extrication” response to the 6000 block of Beach Drive SW [map], where a driver initially was reported to have hit a parked car that had two people inside, but the SFD dispatch now describes it as “car into house.” Updates to come.
12:38 PM: Firefighters say everyone’s out of the car – which they say is “on the sidewalk” – so they’re reducing the response.
12:48 PM: SFD has completely closed its response; police have called for two tow trucks.
12:47 PM: Lots of questions about this response, as it’s in such a visible place and the police/fire turnout had some fearing the worst, so we’re mentioning it in case you wondered too. This was initially dispatched as a “motorcycle vs. pedestrian” collision but then described by police as involving a “moped” (ebike or scooter). One person was reported hurt, apparently the rider, as a tow was ordered for the bike; we’re checking on the rider’s condition.
5:02 PM: SFD says the rider, a man in his early 30s, was in stable condition when taken to the hospital. The pedestrian was not hurt.
Thanks for the photo. That’s the Seattle Fire response at the scene of a gas leak near 40th/Hanford. Seattle Fire is just wrapping up its response now that Puget Sound Energy is on the scene and is reported to have secured the line. According to emergency-radio exchanges, a construction crew hit a 5/8″ service line “in the street” and that’s what caused the leak.
7:30 PM: Now there’s another rescue dispatch – this time to the 6700 block of Beach Drive SW, where a man is reported to have “fallen down a bluff.” But first units on scene say the man may not be in major trouble so they are reducing the response.
7:34 PM: The remaining units just told dispatch they’ve already rescued the man.
8:40 PM: Just a note to say that, after a technical outage (sorry about that), we’re back up and checking with SFD on the man’s condition.
(Added: WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
If you too are wondering about the big police/fire response at an apartment complex south of California/Stevens – responders rescued someone who was threatening self-harm. The person will be taken to a hospital.
Reminder that if you are, or someone you know is, having thoughts of self-harm, you can call the 988 hotline any time of day or night.
11:28 AM: Big SFD response now for a report of a canoe in trouble off Seacrest with up to 8 people aboard.
11:31 AM: Rescuers have yet to confirm that anyone is in trouble.
11:34 AM: Rescuers have learned it’s a drill. They’re canceling the response. (Added: Whose drill, we don’t know – practicing regaining the control of canoes after capsizing – but one firefighter was heard grousing over the air, “Nice of them to tell us.”)
(Added: WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
1:35 PM: Thanks for the tips about a big Seattle Fire response along Harbor Avenue SW. They’re checking out a possible person aboard a vessel in trouble. More to come.
1:37 PM: The Coast Guard is also involved in the response and Seattle Fire radio indicates they’ve recovered “a patient” from a vessel.
1:48 PM: USCG is handling the patient, who is not believed to be seriously hurt/ill, and SFD is demobilizing its part of the response.
2:20 PM: Listening back to the initial radio traffic, the incident started with a “sinking vessel” reported somewhere off Blake Island. We haven’t heard what kind of vessel nor what its status is, but will follow up with USCG.
5:34 PM: USCG tells the story via its X account:
A #USCG crew from Station Seattle rescued 1 man this afternoon after his kayak took on water while he was transiting between Alki Point and Blake Island. The man called 911, but dispatchers lost comms with him. The man entered the water at some point after that. The #USCG crew was underway in Elliott Bay at the time. They quickly located and brought the man aboard their boat. Units from @SeattleFire and @KitsapWa also responded. He was seen by EMS in W. Seattle. He was wearing a life jacket during the incident.
10:37 AM: SFD has extricated one person from what’s reported to be a car on its side in the 5900 block of 44th SW. Updates to come.
(WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
10:59 AM: One woman is being sent to Harborview. Our crew was told she was the driver of the car that went sideways. She is reported to have hit at least one parked car. This is on 44th just south of Juneau, obviously blocked until the wrecked vehicles can be cleared.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli, who also shared video)
SPD told us there were no signs of driver impairment. Neighbors told us a second car was apparently damaged, in addition to the blue one shown in our first photo above.
11:58 AM: Officers just told dispatch the street has reopened.
5:07 PM: A water-rescue response has been sent to Alki Point via land and sea after 911 got a call from someone on a passing ferry who said they saw a windsurfer about 1,000 yards off the point, possibly in distress.
5:13 PM: Some SFD units are reported to be going to Seacrest in case a victim is found and needs to be transported to a land unit there. Meantime, no sign of the possibly-in-trouble person yet.
5:18 PM: One responding boat has made contact with a kitesurfer who’s not in trouble. Crews will continue standing by while boats search the area just to be sure there’s nobody else in the area who is in trouble.
5:22 PM: After talking to the aforementioned kitesurfer, and checking back with the original caller, they’re pretty sure the call ultimately was unfounded, so most responding units have been dismissed.
3:08 AM: It’s not a huge response because those in the vehicle are reported to have gotten out safely, but a “rollover” crash is reported in the 1900 block of SW Dawson [vicinity map], the precarious section of road where it bends along a ravine. No other details.
3:16 AM: SFD is already leaving the scene, after its crew reported finding a “partial rollover” and that no one was there to treat – “everyone left.”
3:42 AM: Officers just told dispatch they’re blocking both lanes of Dawson as they prepare to get the vehicle towed, and that there’s a fluid spill SDOT should clean up.
4:02 AM: The street has reopened both ways.
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli unless otherwise credited)
5:38 PM: Thanks for the tips. Emergency responders are at the scene of an SFD “rescue extrication” callout for a flipped vehicle. Avoid the area – 46th/Admiral Way. Updates to come.
5:47 PM: Actually it’s a car on its side, as our photos show. SFD says two people have been rescued from the car and that firefighter/medics say both are in stable condition.
6:01 PM: Photos show at least three vehicles involved – the one that went sideways, a UPS truck, and from another angle sent by a nearby resident, an SUV with front-end damage.
(Photo sent by nearby resident)
6:16 PM:Westbound Admiral is reopening, police are telling dispatch. Eastbound remains closed pending tow truck(s). Meantime, Christopher Boffoli has been at the scene for WSB; he spoke with the UPS truck driver, who reports being tangentially involved – the two other vehicles collided and then slid into the truck, which had minimal damage. Christopher has also confirmed that only one of the two people rescued from the sideways car was taken to the hospital, and that was via private ambulance, so her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
6:31 PM: Now eastbound Admiral is reopening too.
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: One driver, a 73-year-old woman, was arrested and booked into jail for investigation of DUI. Police say the woman taken to the hospital is 96 and was a passenger in the arrested driver’s car. According to the police narrative we obtained this morning, they both were in the vehicle that went sideways and were the two people extricated. Police say multiple witnesses told them that the “vehicle begin traveling through the intersection, bypass the lane of congested westbound traffic and collide into (the other vehicle) which was traveling in eastbound lane.” They took the driver into custody after observing signs they interpreted as impairment; they say she reported having a “large” alcoholic beverage with dinner at an Admiral restaurant. In addition to the arrest for investigation of DUI, the report says she was cited at the scene for failure to yield at an intersection.
8:24 PM: Thanks for the tip. Police and medics are on the westbound West Seattle Bridge near the Delridge offramp because of a motorcycle crash. Updates to come.
8:27 PM: Medics just told dispatch the rider did not survive.
8:38 PM: Police just confirmed the death.
8:50 PM: We missed the original dispatch, so we’re checking the archived audio for any other details. No other vehicle reported involved, so far; initial dispatch was “motorcyclist vs. jersey barrier … right at the Delridge exit.”
10:20 PM: As a commenter noted, the motorcycle was toward the end of the Delridge offramp, by Fire Station 36. Our photo above is what we could see from under the bridge. Meantime, SPD has posted about this, but no additional details; they’re asking anyone who might have information to call the Traffic Collision Investigation unit at 206-684-8923.
1:51 AM: SPD has since updated its post to say the rider who died was a 42-year-old man. This is the first deadly collision in West Seattle in five months, since the October 30 one-car crash in Seaview that killed 31-year-old Riley Kestner.
ADDED 3:59 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the crash victim as Kristopher M. Griebe.
(Added: Photo sent by Jessie McClurg)
9:33 PM: SPD and SFD are responding to a report of a flipped-car crash in the Westwood Village parking lot near QFC and Rite Aid. The car is described as a “blue Hyundai sedan.” One person is reportedly trapped, one ejected, per dispatch. Updates to come.
9:39 PM: The flipped car is described as “in the bushes” and firefighters told dispatch that one person is indeed in the vehicle – they’re working to cut that one out – one outside. Neither is believed to have life-threatening injuries, in early assessment.
9:47 PM: Added a reader photo just sent. Firefighter have told dispatch they’ve gotten the trapped person out of the car (further described as a Hyundai Sonata). SFD describes both injured people as in stable condition.
(Added: Photo sent by Tim Durkan)
9:50 PM: Added another photo we just received. Meantime, an officer at the scene has just told dispatch, “This will be a medically related collision.”
ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: SFD tells us the 56-year-old woman rescued from the vehicle was taken to a hospital; the other injured person, a 43-year-old woman, did not need that level of treatment.
Thanks for the tips and photos. A Waste Management truck is on its side at Marine View Drive and 46th (where a “ghost bike” still serves as a reminder of a deadly crash). Apparently no injuries in this, as SFD was not sent so it doesn’t appear on the online log.
66-year-old Steve Hulsman was riding a bicycle at that intersection when he was killed in a collision in December 2023.
9:42 PM: If you saw the police chase that just went northbound on Delridge Way, it’s a King County Sheriff’s Office case, possibly related to gunfire, according to discussion on SPD radio. No other details yet.
9:46 PM: This apparently ended with a “car into building,” according to the “rescue extrication” callout just dispatched.
9:49 PM: Officers told dispatch the building is the HR Block office at Delridge/Andover. KCSO reportedly has taken one suspect into custody. … Delridge is “completely shut down” at Andover. Two people have been rescued from one vehicle and SFD says there’s another injured person in another vehicle.
9:56 PM: Police report the signals at the intersection have been knocked out of power.
10:28 PM: Just went to the scene – one car is in the HR Block, another crashed on the southbound roadside.
Street will be closed at least another hour per police.
10:58 PM: More pics added. We’re still working to get more info on the circumstances and injuries. We don’t know for sure which of the crashed vehicles was the one being pursued – but the pursuit was northbound, and the HR Block is on the northbound side ….
11:16 PM: Commenter Miriam – who says they were in a third damaged car – says the car inside the HR Block is indeed the one that was being chased. Meantime, KCSO spokesperson Capt. Tim Meyer tells us this is what preeded it:
This incident began around 9:00 PM when deputies responded to the 11500 blk of 10th Ave S for a report of shots or a pellet gun heard. A suspect vehicle was later located by responding deputies and a pursuit ensued. This ended in a collision with two persons, at this time, detained. No deputies were injured. This remains an active scene. We will have no further updates until Wednesday morning as work in this case continues. We are unaware of any suspects outstanding.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: SFD says two people were treated from vehicles involved in the crash (we don’t know which vehicle/s with which they were associated) – a 41-year-old woman and 42-year-old man, both assessed as being in stable condition; she was taken to the hospital by private ambulance, while SFD says he “reportedly went to a hospital in a private vehicle.”
9:39 AM: This didn’t generate a big emergency response, so we might have missed it if not for the texter who sent that photo. This happened in the past half-hour at 31st SW and SW Thistle. The response level indicates no serious injuries, but we’re verifying with SFD.
9:58 AM: According to incident audio, the driver walked/ran away from the scene before police got there; he was described as white, 25-30 years old, medium to heavy build, blue sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, black shoes. The crash also was reported to have knocked down some of the pedestrian signage at the intersection.
If you passed 37th/Morgan in the past half-hour, you might have seen that startling sight – a car up on the sidewalk, after hitting the bottom of a home’s stairway to/from the streetfront. SPD and SFD are still there; the driver is reported to be hurt, but not seriously. SFD is parked on 37th so this isn’t affecting traffic, we’re told. No info so far on the circumstances.
2:35 PM: A big Seattle Fire response is arriving in the 3200 block of 16th SW on Harbor Island for a “rescue extrication” response related to an apparent industrial incident. Three people are reported hurt, at least one seriously; those who were trapped were “dug out” by co-workers, responders told dispatch, so they’ll be downsizing the response. They say they’re in a “gravel yard by the old mill.”
2:50 PM: Medics have reported via radio that the three injured workers were “in a rail car unloading freight when 100-pound bags of grain collapsed on them.” All are reported to be conscious and all will be taken to the hospital – a 22-year-old man by SFD medic unit, 24- and 40-year-old men by AMR ambulances.
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