(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:02 PM: If you’re wondering why multiple Seattle Fire Department units rushed to West Seattle Athletic Club – it’s dispatched as a fire alarm having gone off, but described on radio communications as involving a suspected sprinkler-pipe problem. We have a crew checking it out.

1:16 PM: Christopher Boffoli reports that while an alarm bell is still sounding at the club, and staff confirms a broken pipe, they “say otherwise they are open and things are business as usual.”

1:46 PM: Adding a few more photos, including this one as a side note – the icy/salted SW Yancy hill just west of the club:

The call is now closed out on the 911 log, meaning SFD crews have departed.

(THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Adding info from Tukwila PD re: injured officer, more)

(Crash scene on westbound bridge curve, photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
6:59 PM: Thanks for all the tips about a big police/fire response on the westbound bridge near the Admiral exit – it’s on the 911 log as a crash -working to find out more.

(Part of the search scene off the bridge near Admiral/Manning, photo by Patrick Sand)
7:03 PM: This was a pursuit involving a pickup truck, we’ve learned, and the suspect reportedly went down the bridge, which is why police are searching beneath it, near where Avalon meets the bridge. We’re told the crash scene appears to involve a police vehicle.

7:10 PM: Comments have more information about what was seen unfolding and confirm the police vehicle involvement. There also is at least one helicopter in the area.

7:20 PM: Access is blocked off for some of the neighborhoods beneath the bridge – Bradford, Manning.

7:33 PM: From our crew covering this – the truck involved in the crash was stolen and had rammed a Tukwila Police vehicle. As commenters are saying (read below), the truck was seen dodging between vehicles on the westbound bridge, with officers in pursuit, before the crash.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
7:41 PM: The bridge is closed westbound before Admiral because of this – you will have to get off via Delridge.

7:50 PM: With the SPD Traffic Collision Investigation Squad investigating this, chances are the bridge will be closed westbound for a few hours, so if you are headed this way any time before late evening, plan an alternate route.

7:55 PM: An update from Seattle Police via Twitter:

Collision occurred after @KingCoSheriff , Tukwila PD pursued stolen car, car collided with police car. Suspect is in custody.

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 30, 2014

8:01 PM: As noted by commenters, it’s believed the white truck that was being chased hit at least two other vehicles. No word of major injuries so far. Also an update from commenters: The closure is now after the Admiral/Harbor exit- you can get off there now.

8:19 PM UPDATE: Just talked to SPD’s Det. Mark Jamieson. He says a Tukwila Police officer was hurt, apparently in the foot chase that followed the crash. SPD is handling the crash investigation, but the rest of the case involves King County Sheriffs/Tukwila PD – Jamieson did not know where the pursuit began. No details yet on the person who is in custody.

(WSB video from back seat while going eastbound past investigation/crash scene)
9 PM UPDATE: Adding more photos. We just headed eastbound on the bridge for a passing glimpse at how it’s going, and the bridge remains closed just west of the Admiral exit, with investigators working at the scene. The previous search scene below the bridge is clear and open again, by the way, in case you weren’t sure. Also, though some comment discussion wondered about a suspect jumping off the bridge, no, Det. Jamieson said, their understanding was what we had reported – the suspect fled down the ramp.

10:28 PM UPDATE: Police have announced via radio communications that the bridge is reopening. Meantime, our partners at The Seattle Times report that this began in the Southcenter Mall area; Tukwila Police began pursuing the stolen vehicle northbound on I-5 and continued westbound onto the West Seattle Bridge.

8:37 AM THURSDAY: We’re checking with Tukwila PD for any additional details. For starters – spokesperson Mike Murphy tells us the officer who was hurt “is fine” and already out of the hospital. Otherwise, this news release excerpt from overnight is all TPD has so far:

Tukwila Officers responded to the Westfield Mall/Southcenter area to reports of a stolen vehicle. Officers located the stolen vehicle, and attempted to make a high-risk stop. The vehicle failed to stop for the officers and started northbound on Interstate 5.

Officers continued to follow and attempt to stop the stolen truck as it traveled on Interstate 5 towards Seattle. The fleeing vehicle then continued onto the West Seattle Bridge. The truck then lost control and crashed on the bridge. As the police vehicles were arriving, the stolen truck drove at one of the police vehicles, and rammed it. The suspects in the stolen truck then fled on foot after ramming the police vehicle, and all were quickly apprehended. All suspects are in custody.

9:31 AM: And a little more info about the two people arrested – a 26-year-old woman from Federal Way was driving and faces charges, Murphy says, including felony eluding and possession of suspected methamphetamine. The passenger, also facing charges, is a 23-year-old man from Seattle.

5:32 PM: Another crash reported on 35th SW. Radio communications describe this as involving a car and motorcycle. 35th is blocked at Othello. More to come.

5:45 PM: 35th is closed at Myrtle on the north side of crash scene and (updated) at Webster on the south side. The car’s driver was also hurt. It is in the northbound lanes while the motorcycle is down on the northwest corner (in the background of top photo).

5:59 PM: Police at the scene tell us the motorcycle rider is the only person who had to be taken to the hospital; the rider’s injuries apparently are not life-threatening, as the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is NOT being called out. They have called for tow trucks and expect the road to reopen once the car and motorcycle are cleared. Preliminary investigation, they said, showed the motorcyclist was rear-ended while trying to turn, and thrown into the path of a second car (the one in the foreground of our photo).

6:29 PM: Police are reopening 35th.

(Photo from @UmangJDesai via Twitter)
4:25 PM: Thanks for the tips – there’s been a crash at 42nd/Alaska, reportedly involving a pedestrian. At least 1 tv chopper checked it out. Avoid the area for a while.

4:32 PM UPDATE: The woman who was hit is not believed to have life-threatening injuries.

5:18 PM UPDATE: Just checked; scene is clear.

From Pigeon Point and Puget Ridge in particular, you might have heard or seen a big Seattle Fire response this past hour. They were called out to a spot on the Duwamish River right under the West Seattle Bridge, described by SFD via Twitter as “27-foot sailboat drifted into bridge abutment on the Duwamish. No injuries.” The SFD fireboat Chief Seattle was called in to help get the sailboat to shore.

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB – 1st one substituted for original phone photo)
8:14 PM: If you’re heading toward Highway 509 southbound to Burien, or the 1st Avenue South Bridge, heads-up – there’s a “heavy rescue” response at Olson/Myers (map), which is just past the east end of Roxbury.

8:39 PM: Just added our first photo from Christopher Boffoli on the scene – showing the rescue response on the downhill (northeastbound) side.

8:46 PM: Christopher reports that the State Patrol responded as did Seattle Fire: “Single-car rollover. Looks like a second vehicle got clipped. Three victims transported with non-life-threatening injuries including an infant.”

9:03 PM: WSP confirms minor injuries and says the road should reopen within half an hour or so.

ORIGINAL REPORT< 5:02 PM: A medic response and possible gas leak have Avalon blocked north of Genesee. Buses are being rerouted.

5:10 PM: The area where an odor, possibly gas, is detectable is the same area where a possible leak caused trouble some months back – the former church on the east side of Avalon. We should know more shortly – SFD public information officers have arrived.

5:22 PM: SFD’s Lt. Sue Stangl confirmed to WSB at the scene that this incident involves suicide – the natural gas was running, to the point where it was dangerous outside the apartment where it happened. The air has to clear to a safe level before the road can reopen. Medics tried but were unable to revive the victim. (If you or someone you know considers self-harm, 206-461-3222 is the Crisis Clinic‘s 24-hour line.)

5:41 PM: The road has reopened; Metro has resumed normal routing.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:03 PM: Big Seattle Fire response on the way to check out a possible fire incident at the Alaska House apartments, 4545 42nd SW, just north of Junction Plaza Park.

(Added: Photo that Charles took as the initial response continued to arrive)
1:08 PM: The response is being scaled back, escept for four units – likely “food on the stove.”

1:17 PM: SFD confirms that. Christopher Boffoli, on scene for WSB, was told by a resident that a maintenance worker saw smoke coming from a unit and called SFD. Thank you to everyone who messaged us on this – including two WSB’ers who saw the specialized SFD units crossing the West Seattle Bridge and knew that was a sure sign of a potentially major call.

Our foggy Thanksgiving ended with a colorful sunset – if you were up over those low clouds, as was Mark Dale, who shared the views above and below from Gatewood Hill:

From Upper Fauntleroy, Holly‘s view includes part of the Olympics:

And on the northeast side of the peninsula, Brewster Johnston saw the downtown skyline peeking over the clouds:

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share photos tonight!

(UPDATED TUESDAY MORNING with more details from police report – scroll down)

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, added 7:42 pm)
6:42 PM: Multiple Rapid Ride buses are stopped in Morgan Junction right now on California just north of Fauntleroy as part of a police investigation that’s led to an arrest. We’re still working to find out exactly what happened but avoid the area if you can. More to come.

6:50 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene says this is actually happening closer to California/Raymond, north of Graham.

7:00 PM UPDATE: While we have no official information yet, multiple people including commenters say this involved a man pulling a gun on a bus. We’ve reached the King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, who would speak for the Transit Police, but we’re told that Seattle Police are leading the investigation, so we’re working to get more comment from them.

7:15 PM UPDATE: Police have now confirmed at the scene that the man they arrested is suspected of trying to rob people at gunpoint aboard the bus. Multiple witnesses tell us he was stopped by riders who tackled him.

7:33 PM UPDATE: Just talked with a man who says he was among those who subdued the suspect. He said he mostly wanted to give “a big shoutout to a guy named Joshua” who was the first to “start bringing him down … he did an admirable thing.” He says the would-be robber had pantyhose over his face and a gun that “looked like a large black revolver” and was “putting the gun against people’s faces, grabbing their cell phones.” (Others we’ve heard from mentioned that cellphones appeared to be what the man was after.) How did Joshua try to stop the man with the gun? we asked. “First thing he did was grab the arm holding the revolver and managed to get his finger in” to where he could stop the trigger from being pulled. “We were sitting on (the armed man) trying to restrain him,” and it seemed like five minutes before police arrived, he said.

7:57 PM UPDATE: A few more details from police now, via SPD Blotter: The suspect is 19 years old and got on the bus at 3rd and Pike downtown, but “kept to himself” until the bus arrived in the 6000 block of California SW. After the arrest, police say, the suspect kicked out a squad car’s window, and was subsequently taken to jail in this van we photographed at the scene:

SPD says the suspect was booked for investigation of three counts of robbery.

ADDED 8:23 AM TUESDAY: Some have asked about the detail in the SPD Blotter report suggesting the suspect was seen wearing a mask long before the robberies. We’ve just obtained a copy of the police report this morning, and the officer did indeed write that one robbery victim “said he noticed (the suspect) because (the suspect) had a stocking covering part of his face.” Also from the report, here’s what police say that victim told them about how it unfolded:

(Victim) told me that the bus made it all the way from downtown to the 6000 block of California Av SW. About that time he saw (suspect) rob a female passenger … of her cell phone by sticking a black handgun into her face and demanding her phone.

(Suspect) then stepped across the aisle and pointed the gun into (victim’s) face and demanded his cell phone. (Victim) initially refused to give his cell phone to (suspect, who) then shoved the handgun into the back of (victim’s) head and said, “give me your phone, don’t make this harder.” (Victim) then gave (suspect) his phone. (Victim) told me that (suspect) then walked further down the aisle and shoved his gun into the face of another male passenger … and demanded his cell phone. (That passenger) grabbed the gun and shoved it away from him. (A passenger) then started hitting (suspect), with several passengers … shoving (suspect) to the floor of the bus. (Four passengers in all) held (suspect) down until officers arrived.

We are checking to see if the suspect will appear for a bail hearing this afternoon. The report also says that while he was described as “very agitated and belligerent toward officers and the other bus passengers after he was placed into custody,” the suspect “did not appear intoxicated on alcohol or narcotics.” So far as we can tell from court records, he does not have a criminal history, at least in this state, just a couple of traffic tickets from earlier this month.

(New photo courtesy Chaucer Wells Photography – that’s the capsized boat on the left)
2:21 PM: We’re on our way to South Alki, where the U.S. Coast Guard is helping a small vessel that’s in trouble. Thanks to Sally and Steve for the original tip.

2:31 PM: TV helicopter is hovering over the water – thanks for the texts about that. It’s extremely windy out here, too. No official information yet but Sally and Steve had texted that it appeared some people had transferred from the private vessel to the Coast Guard boat.

2:38 PM: Scanner traffic says three people have been rescued and they’re looking for one more. Beach Drive is closed along Constellation Park for the rescue operations’ shore component.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Two helicopters are now in the area. The boat is capsized, we can see from shore.

(Updated photo courtesy Chaucer Wells Photography: USCG helicopter dropping diver into the water)
3:00 PM: Divers are in the water and reporting that they have “recovered one victim from the vessel.” We have also heard a report that two of the three people rescued will be admitted to the hospital, while the third declined treatment.

(This photo and next two, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
3:17 PM: Seattle Fire says the patient recovered from the water is “unconscious and unresponsive” and had been in for about half an hour. He is reported to be undergoing CPR while being taken to Harborview Medical Center.

3:39 PM: Our remaining crew at Alki Point says the Coast Guard is leaving with the capsized boat. Beach Drive is open again at the scene. We’ll be adding more photos, as well as updates as we get them.

4:25 PM UPDATE: Via Twitter, SFD says five people were on the boat. Their fireboat Chief Seattle (above) was part of the search/rescue off Constellation Park, as was a Seattle Police Harbor Patrol boat (at right, below).

4:54 PM UPDATE: The capsized boat was towed to Don Armeni – this photo was shared by Patrick Binns:

Thank you to all the readers who shared photos and texts/calls as this unfolded. To get a sense of just how windy and choppy it was at the time, check out this brief clip by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli:

6:08 PM UPDATE: We just talked with Kyle Moore from Seattle Fire, whose Station 14-based divers rescued the captain of the boat, found in the wheelhouse somewhere between half an hour to an hour after the boat flipped. Moore says the captain remains in critical condition; the other three admitted to the hospital are satisfactory. He says the Coast Guard is the agency that mentioned a fifth person rescued – SFD never saw or treated that person, so Moore has no further details. USCG had taken the other three to Fire Station 5 downtown after rescuing them before SFD was even called in to join the search. Still no official word on exactly whose boat it was and what it was doing.

12:58 AM: As noted in comments, our partners at The Seattle Times report that the man who was pulled out by divers didn’t make it. The Times reports that the boat and its crew were from Ballard Marine Construction, doing survey work when this happened.

(WSB photo added 8:37 pm)
7:26 PM: Seattle Police say (via scanner) they’re closing Admiral Way between 47th and 49th after a vehicle hit a pole. No word of serious injuries, but “the pole is ready to come down,” one officer warned. More to come.

7:53 PM: Seattle City Light is on scene. The impact actually detached the pole at its base; no word how long the road will be closed. The driver apparently was not seriously hurt, but was being questioned by police.

11:29 PM: Still closed, per commenters.

12:58 AM: Happening right now in the 3000 block of Avalon Way (map) and vicinity – police are looking for a driver who ran away after her car rolled over.

1:08 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Tyler for the photo. As you can see, at least one parked car was hit (thanks also to Kim for that additional detail – and the photo below, showing more of the scene).

1:17 AM UPDATE: Per scanner, the suspected driver, described as a 30-year-old woman, has been found about two blocks away, and will be checked out by SFD medics.

(Photo by Tony Bradley)
1:36 PM: We’re getting word that a car-motorcycle crash at East Marginal Way South and South Spokane Street (map) involves a fatality. That’s according to Seattle Fire via Twitter; the motorcycle rider was killed, while the car’s 55-year-old driver is being taken to a hospital “as a precaution.” More to come.

(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
4:05 PM: Investigators are still at the scene, so motor vehicles should avoid the area (bike path unaffected).

8:07 PM: Seattle Police have just published an update via SPD Blotter, saying they believe the motorcycle rider, 24 years old, was speeding:

… Preliminary investigation indicates that a 24-year-old man was driving his white Yamaha motorcycle southbound on East Marginal Way South at a high rate of speed and passing vehicles using the bicycle lane. As the motorcyclist approached South Spokane Street he struck a green Isuzu Trooper SUV that had been travelling southbound on East Marginal Way South and was initiating a westbound turn onto South Spokane Street. The force of the collision caused the motorcyclist to be thrown from his motorcycle, and he subsequently sustained fatal injuries.

Fire department medics responded and pronounced the motorcyclist deceased at the scene. King County Medical Examiner’s Office personnel responded and took custody of the deceased man.

The 50-year-old driver of the Isuzu was transported to Harborview Medical Center via ambulance for precautionary reasons. Officers evaluated the driver of the Isuzu for signs of impairment; none were detected. …

The motorcycle rider has not been identified; his name isn’t likely to be made available by the Medical Examiner’s Office before tomorrow.