West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
(Added: WSB photos)
7:52 PM: Thanks for the texts about a big police response north of The Junction. We’re just arriving in the area where police have converged, near California/Dakota. We know they’re focused on an apartment building with a possible suspect inside but we don’t yet know why. Updates to come.
7:58 PM: More police vehicles in the northbound lane of California just south of Dakota, and through traffic is having to go through the center lane to get around it. Avoid this area if you can. Police at the scene aren’t saying what the suspect is wanted for.
8:09 PM: From the scanner – the man on whom police are focused is believed to have a gun.
8:18 PM: California/Andover and vicinity is blocked off by police, so if you have to get to/through this area, take the side streets to the west – this is all happening east of California. It does appear from our vantage point, though, that diverted traffic is traveling along 42nd, including a Metro bus.
8:33 PM: We’ve finally been able to obtain information on what started this. “Person in crisis” situation – armed person threatening self-harm, according to Det. Patrick Michaud with the media-relations unit, reached by phone.
9:05 PM: SWAT officers are arriving to assist. The new “mobile precinct” vehicle (photo above) has been in the area for a while, too.
9:43 PM: Officers are in contact with the man now. Awaiting word that he’s in custody. We have a crew at the scene as well and asking them to confirm. All indications from radio traffic is that the situation is now under control. An ambulance is being brought in and police are going in to “clear the residence.”
9:51 PM: Our crew confirms that the man is out of the apartment and this has been resolved peacefully. California is going to stay closed for a while, per scanner, but Andover will be reopened soon.
10:15 PM: Our crew has just talked with a sergeant at the scene. The man was in the apartment by himself all along. California SW is likely to reopen within half an hour – right now they’re waiting for the SWAT officers to pack up and clear out.
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: As a commenter points out, when stories involve suicide or threats of self-harm, we usually include info about the Crisis Clinic, which is always there to help, including a 24-hour hotline at 206-461-3222.
9:48 PM: Seattle Fire has a big “heavy rescue” response at California/Graham. More to come.
9:58 PM UPDATE: We’re almost there. Texter says rescuers are cutting people out of a van on its side on the sidewalk and Graham is blocked west of California.
(Photo tweeted by Dan Brown, @kapitolphoto)
10:03 PM: Per scanner, one person is being taken to the hospital.
10:09 PM: The rest of the SFD responders are being dismissed. Police remain at the scene.
(WSB photos – this and next – by Christopher Boffoli)
10:18 PM: More info we’ve learned at the scene – 3 people in all went to the hospital, one via medic unit, two via private ambulance.
(updated Saturday morning) The vehicles collided when one was headed northbound from an alley onto Graham, where the other was headed eastbound.
4:01 PM: If you’re heading eastbound toward downtown – the offramp to northbound Highway 99 will be closed for a bit. Smoke was coming from a stalled car, and Seattle Fire says the ramp will be blocked while they checked it out, with police on the way too, and a tow company being called.
5:19 PM UPDATE: SDOT just announced it’s open again:
UPDATE: The exit from the EB West Seattle Bridge to northbound SR 99 has reopened.
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 9, 2016
(Added: Thanks to Angelina for the photo taken right after it happened)
12:11 PM: Thanks for the tips reporting a vehicle crash at the North Delridge Subway (Delridge/Andover). The 911 log shows a heavy-rescue call that canceled quickly. We’re en route for a look.
(WSB photo)
12:26 PM: Police at the scene say no one was hurt. Store management says the shop IS open – this damaged one of their two doors, but the other one – on the north end of the facade – is usable, and they will be finishing cleanup shortly. Police say the crash was caused by the driver hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake.
That’s Parker, who asked her mom to send us the photo in honor of the Seahawks’ last regular-season game, 1:25 pm today at Arizona. Besides watching the game, what’s happening around West Seattle for the rest of today? A few options:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: First WSFM of the year! See what’s fresh in the heart of winter. 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. (California SW between SW Edmunds and SW Oregon)
FLING YOUR FRISBEE: 10 am at Walt Hundley Playfield, pickup game with West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee. (34th SW & SW Myrtle)
SWIM AT SOUTHWEST POOL: Four public swim sessions today (and all Sundays this winter), between 11 am and 6 pm – see the schedule here. (2801 SW Thistle)
GO BACK IN TIME … at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum, a perfect side trip if you’re going to Alki to walk, dine, enjoy the view – or a destination all its own. Noon-4 pm, now featuring items from the Nordic Heritage Museum’s exhibit about West Seattle’s own Ivar Haglund. Noon-4 pm.
LIVE MUSIC: Acoustic-based singer/songwriter Hayden Eller performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW … what’s happening tomorrow, next week, next month, by browsing the advance listings in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
Police and fire units are at a home in the 5900 block of Fauntleroy Way SW. While the 911 log labels it an “assault with weapons,” there’s no confirmation so far of a victim. Information monitored via scanner suggested someone had called 911 to report a possible stabbing attempt. (One minute after publishing) We’ve just heard police tell the dispatcher, “nobody was stabbed.” So the SFD units will be dismissed.
9:05 PM: Sizable Seattle Fire response in the 4300 block of SW Frontenac in south Morgan Junction for a response on the log as “assault with weapons.” We’re en route to see what we can find out.
9:11 PM: This is reported to be a 70-year-old man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He is being rushed to Harborview.
9:16 PM: Our crew at the scene has confirmed the report of the circumstances. Medic 32 is taking the man to HMC, and other SFD units will clear the scene.
As we always note when suicide or attempted suicide comes up: The 24-hour Crisis Clinic hotline is there for anyone who is considering self-harm – 206-461-3222.
No injuries reported, but traffic is slow at Highland Park Way and Holden while a multi-vehicle crash is cleared, so if you’re heading out any time soon and have to go through that busy intersection, you might consider an alternative, or waiting a bit. (Thanks for the tip texted to our hotline, 206-293-6302.)
6:51 PM: Thanks for the tips that a crash response is blocking West Marginal Way SW near the Duwamish Longhouse (4700 block). We don’t have details of the crash but we’d suggest avoiding the area for now.
7:50 PM: SDOT update via Twitter:
Hearing that @SeattleSPU is replacing a broken power pole at W Marginal Way SW & S Alaska St. Lanes remain subject to closure.
— seattledot (@seattledot) December 16, 2015
7:14 AM: As you can see from the comments, the road apparently remains closed – we’re off to see if we can find out why.
7:37 AM: City Light is still working right at the Duwamish Longhouse (4700 block W. Marginal Way SW) and we’ve verified, the road is indeed still closed at that point, both directions.
8:01 AM: Please see our daily traffic watch for continuing coverage of the closure, as repair work continues.
7:52 PM: The original call is for a medic response at Delridge and Kenyon; via Twitter, a tipster says it’s blocking the road, so we’re off to check.
8:10 PM: Seattle Fire had cleared the scene before we got there; two SPD units remained, in the pullout by the bus stop on the northbound side, so traffic had resumed flowing both ways. The officers told us a driver hit a pedestrian – injuries not life-threatening; the pedestrian was taken to the hospital by private ambulance.
10:47 AM: Big Seattle Fire response is en route to the 3200 block of Alki SW for a report of a boat fire. Updates shortly.
(Added: Photo by Gary Jones)
10:59 AM: This is wrapping up. SFD tells us at the scene that a 12-foot boat got loose and flipped, but no one was on board.
3:16 PM: Thanks to the person who texted us with the tip that a crash reported on Admiral Way just west of California SW involves several cars. So far we’ve heard that no one is hurt but eastbound traffic on Admiral is affected. We’re en route to find out more.
3:36 PM: Our crew sent the photo added above and reports that four cars are involved, right in front of the Bank of America. Eastbound lanes are blocked there while tow trucks are awaited.
Just mentioning this in case you saw/heard the big initial response: The “fire in building” call at a condo building in the 4400 block of 44th SW was basically a false alarm, triggered by a problem accidentally setting off a sprinkler in the garage. The units that haven’t already been dismissed will be wrapping up shortly, we were told at the scene.
9:23 PM: You might have heard the sirens a little while ago – a big initial response for a crash at 21st SW and SW Myrtle. It was first called out as a “heavy rescue,” but it’s been scaled back. We don’t have details on the circumstances but are off to check.
9:54 PM: It was a one-car crash at the curve by Sanislo Elementary. The car went into the shrubs on the slope west of the corner, north of the stairs. The driver got himself out, police told us at the scene, and is unhurt, but is in custody, while they investigate the possibility of DUI.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Online records show a 34-year-old man was cited for being under the influence.
(Photo courtesy Chris Monsos)
3:35 PM: Big Seattle Fire and Police response headed right now for a crash reported on the Delridge offramp from the westbound West Seattle Bridge. It was originally reported as a potential “heavy rescue” situation but is being scaled back. We’re on the way to see what we can find out.
3:46 PM: Overturned van, according to Jen in comments and Chris via the photo we’ve just added. No word yet on injuries. SDOT says the ramp is blocked right now so the van can be towed.
4:21 PM: Even before the van was to be towed, Chris said, traffic was getting around. We’ve added a photo sent by our crew.
4:32 PM: Metro says this has rerouted buses on Routes 50, 120, 125. If you’re headed that way, use stops south of Genesee TFN.
4:52 PM: SDOT says the ramp is now clear. (And, two minutes later, Metro says its buses on Delridge are back to normal routes.)
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo from Delridge/18th. We subsequently headed over to check out the scene and found the northbound lane is blocked. One person was being put into Medic 32, and police told us he’s being taken to Harborview.
(Added: Photo e-mailed by Amelia)
Avoid the area for a while.
10:52 PM FRIDAY: Police are in the 8100 block of 16th SW right now investigating a stabbing. The victim is a man believed to be 35-40 years old, stabbed once in a back, being rushed to Harborview Medical Center right now. Not much other information available so far but the incident also might be linked to a report of a woman one block away, in the 8100 block of 15th SW, saying she was “maced.”
SATURDAY NIGHT NOTE: The incident is classified on the police-report map as an armed robbery at a residence. No narrative details are available, and at this point won’t be before Monday.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s our followup.
Thanks to the readers who have texted about an incident blocking the intersection at 20th and Henderson. It was listed as a medic response on the Seattle Fire 911 log; SFD tells us it’s a crash involving a bicycle rider. We’re headed to the scene to try to find out more.
10:33 AM: Northbound California is blocked at Findlay because of a crash involving two cars, one of which (as shown in our top photo) went up onto the NE curb and hit stopped just short of a hydrant, right next to the RapidRide stop. Police are directing traffic around the scene, alternating use of the southbound lane. So far, it doesn’t appear that anyone will have to go to the hospital.
10:55 AM: Added two more photos. The one above this line is courtesy of Robert; the one below is ours, showing the other car that was involved.
11:51 AM: Just a note – we haven’t been able to go back and see if the street is clear yet. If you go through the area and can verify, please comment – thanks!
12:27 PM: Thanks to William for sending word that the road is now open both ways.
(WSB photos)
8:39 PM: Thanks to Erin for the tip. Northbound 35th is blocked at Brandon because of a crash involving at least 2 vehicles. One is up on the sidewalk south of Brandon, another vehicle blocking Brandon.
Avoid the area. It’s just started raining heavily after an extended break.
8:50 PM: Now only the outside NB lane is blocked. Police tell us the woman driving the car that went up on the sidewalk was taken to the hospital; one tow truck is here already and they’re hoping the second will arrive soon.
9:18 PM: Photos added after we returned to HQ.
11:32 PM: Thanks to the reader who just texted that photo and word of the rollover crash at Fauntleroy Way and SW Findlay, saying the driver hit the parked vehicle and flipped their own. The Seattle Fire response closed fairly quickly, so as far as we know, no serious injuries.
7:27 AM: The driver is under investigation for DUI.
5:11 PM: Seattle Fire has just sent an “automobile rescue” callout to a crash in the 2700 block of 53rd SW, near Schmitz Park\.
5:13 PM: First units on scene say no one’s hurt and everyone’s out of the car, so the response is being scaled back.
5:42 PM: Just checked out the crash scene. As you can see in the photo we added, the car just missed hitting a utility pole – but did hit a car in a driveway on the downhill curve at 53rd SW and Admiral Way.
(UPDATING to add third West Seattle collision reported in less than an hour)
FIRST CRASH, 1:52 PM: Big Seattle Fire response on the way to 42nd and Findlay for an “automobile rescue” call.
1:55 PM: The response is being scaled back because, according to emergency-radio traffic, everyone’s made it out of their vehicles.
2:06 PM: Adding a photo. One person’s going to the hospital via private ambulance; injuries are not serious. The reason this originally was called out as a “rescue,” police tell us, is that the airbags deployed on one car and they were concerned about possible major injuries and getting the person out quickly and safely. This is the second crash at the intersection in three days; the previous one happened Thursday morning and was mentioned at the time in our morning-traffic coverage.
SECOND CRASH, 2:17 PM: Another crash – this time reported to involve 3 vehicles, at 35th SW and SW Thistle. SFD is arriving and SPD is on the way; we’d suggest avoiding the neighborhood for a while.
2:23 PM: Our crew reports this is actually south of Thistle on 35th, between Thistle and Cloverdale, and the northbound side is blocked by not just the vehicles but also the emergency response.
THIRD CRASH, 2:41 PM: Delridge and Henderson, just reported, partly blocking the intersection, injuries reported. On the way to check.
3:01 PM UPDATE: No major injuries here, either. Delridge traffic is getting through, albeit slowly; if you’re headed east on Henderson, you’ll have to divert for now.
3:29 PM: Let us know if you see any of these still blocking – we were able to check Thistle/Cloverdale/35th on the way back from Delridge/Henderson, and it was all off to the side.
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