11:03 AM: A two-vehicle crash including a flipped SUV and a minivan is blocking eastbound and all but one lane of westbound traffic at 26th and Roxbury. No serious injuries, though. Our crew at the scene says eastbound traffic is being diverted onto southbound 26th. (Thanks to Paul from WSB sponsor PB&J Textiles for the tip on this.)

11:24 AM UPDATE: Just checked back on the scene – tow trucks have arrived. Like the hit-run crash we covered in the same area back in June, this is mostly on the county side of the city/county boundary (which goes down the middle of Roxbury there) so King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, and Seattle Fire was providing assistance at the scene.

WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli sends along this picture of fire crews responding to a pickup-truck fire in a garage in the 3600 block of 48th SW. We’ll have details later.

7:35 PM UPDATE: Christopher reports the fire was out when he arrived at the scene. The incident commander said there were no injuries, but the crew was checking for hot spots. Christopher also says the area was very smoky when he arrived and a fire investigator is on the way to investigate the cause.

The outside southbound lane is blocked on 35th at the scene of a two-car crash. One of the cars went onto the sidewalk on the southwest corner and into a hedge. An ambulance and tow truck are there; avoid the area for a bit.

A busy few hours so far late Friday/early Saturday for local police and firefighters:

(First two photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Most recently, Beach Drive near the Lincoln Park Way intersection at Lowman Beach had two crash calls within minutes in the 6700-7000 blocks, around quarter till 1. The former was where WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams found the scene above. No official details available at this hour but, per scanner traffic, authorities had to call for cleanup help, because of a 30-foot spill of fluids from the crashed car.

Earlier, around 10 pm, Delridge was closed for a while at Cloverdale because of a two-vehicle crash:

Barbara shared the photo. We also are still trying to reach police for official comment on this, but she said it appeared one woman was being taken to the hospital.

3:54 PM: It was initially called out as a “heavy rescue” – usually meaning someone might have to be cut out of wreckage – but most of the units have just been canceled for a crash in the 4700 block of 37th SW, in the Fairmount neighborhood south of The Triangle. We’re en route to check.

4:09 PM: Just added (first) photo by WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, who was told at the scene that a truck rolled downhill and into a parked car.

4:17 PM: More from Christopher – no one was inside the gardening truck when it either lost its parking brake or slipped out of gear and rolled down the hill, hitting a parked car in a driveway and ending up in the front yard of the house next door.

Again, nobody hurt.

6:27 PM: Added three more photos from Christopher – including two showing just how steep the street is.

1:02 PM: Big response off to the 5600 block of 29th SW, which is the golf course/Camp Long vicinity. We believe the dispatch was for someone “stuck in a tree” – we’re en route. And just as we typed that, most of the units have been canceled – we’re continuing just to check it out.

1:10 PM: We’re not there yet but we did want to let you know, if you are seeing a helicopter in the North Delridge area, it’s a TV chopper that was sent to check this out.

1:25 PM: The incident is definitely over – so over, the last fire unit was leaving as we pulled up. Still checking to try to find out a little bit more but bottom line, all’s well now.

2:28 PM: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore says it was a report of an 11-year-old in a tree … and the child turned out to be all of five feet up, so the call was canceled.

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
FIRST REPORT, 9:15 PM: Police are rushing to Whale Tail Park and vicinity on Alki after a report of possible shots fired and a large crowd of people fighting. They are trying to track down someone who may have a gun and a Taser, according to witness reports, per the scanner. No report yet if they have found anyone hurt.

9:21 PM: Per the scanner, police are seeking two suspects – one male (black, 16, black/white tennis shoes, white shirt, khaki shorts), one female (black, heavy) – she is reported to have a gun, he is reported to have a Taser.

9:28 PM: Male suspect reported to be in custody, female still being sought. And there is a report that one area house (on Marine, by the park) got a bullet through the window.

9:41 PM: Added (top) photo. We have two people in the area now, including WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, who says, “Residents who live on the north side of Whale Tail park said they heard a loud argument in the park and then saw a woman repeatedly firing a handgun. The crowd in the park went scrambling.” Police have just confirmed via Twitter that no (injury) victim has been found so far.

9:53 PM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand says police are searching for evidence (as well as any possible hidden suspects) around the homes nearby and everything in Whale Tail Park, including the restrooms.

Police cars are also driving slowly around the streets in the area as part of the search.

10:03 PM: Our crews have counted six spots that police have marked off after finding shell casings.

10:41 PM: As police wrapped up their search, they told us they’d keep increased patrols in the area for the rest of the night.

11:11 PM NOTE: We’ve added more of Christopher’s images to the story, in spots where they illustrate our original text. The 1st one was published while this still was unfolding; the others, added in the past few minutes.

SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: SPD has just posted its summary of what happened, saying it started with an argument between two women, and mentioning one arrest, for “obstructing and a warrant.”

ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:54 PM: In case you are wondering about the big emergency response to 18th SW on Puget Ridge – the call is “assault with weapons” but Seattle Police say it’s believed to be self-inflicted.

5 PM UPDATE: As you can see in our photo above, this happened at the end of a dead-end street. No traffic effects; a few police and fire units were still on scene.

NOTE: If you or someone you know is thinking of or threatening self-harm, the 24-hour Crisis Clinic hotline for King County is 206-461-3222.

ORIGINAL 3:22 PM REPORT: We’ve just confirmed a reader report that West Marginal Way SW is closed at Highland Park Way. Seattle Fire responded to a “med 6” call in the 5900 block, near Alaska Marine Lines, about an hour ago; another reader tells us she drove by the scene and saw a crash that appeared to involve a motorcyclist thrown off her/his bike. We are working to get more information.

3:36 PM UPDATE: Police near the scene confirm to WSB that the motorcyclist did not survive. We don’t know anything about him/her at this point. West Marginal Way is closed in the 4100 block on the north side (at SW Dakota) and at Highland Park Way on the south side.

3:57 PM NOTE: As far as we can tell from our archives, this is the first deadly crash in West Seattle in nine months, since September 2011, when 53-year-old Bradly Gilmore of Olalla died after swerving his motorcycle to avoid a car on the WS Bridge. We don’t know anything about the circumstances of today’s crash yet.

6:46 PM: Road was still closed when we went by about half an hour ago, though a commenter says some prep has been under way to reopen it – we’ll check back again around 8 but please let us know (in comments or editor@westseattleblog.com) if you see it open again before that.

7:10 PM: SPD Blotter has now published information on the crash, saying witnesses reported the motorcycle appeared to have been “racing” with a black car, but they haven’t yet found that car:

On 6/24/12, witnesses stated that at approximately 2:00 p.m., a motorcyclist and a black car were racing northbound on West Marginal Way.

The motorcyclist either failed to negotiate the curve or was forced off the road by the car. The motorcyclist died instantly after hitting a light pole. The search for the car is ongoing and there are no suspects at this time.

Suspect Vehicle: Black import car with tinted windows, two hood scoops, and a rear spoiler.

Anyone with information about this incident or the above described vehicle is asked to call 911.

This is an active and on-going case. No additional information is available at this time.

(Photo was taken from Roxbury Safeway property looking northeast onto the scene on Roxbury)
1:21 AM: Big emergency response to 28th and Roxbury, where one vehicle is reported to have rolled over. More shortly.

1:36 AM: The crash is just north of the Roxbury Safeway. The car is on its side; both directions of Roxbury are blocked at the moment.

1:55 AM: 1 person was taken to the hospital by private ambulance. Police and sheriff’s deputies are searching a few blocks south for a suspect believed to be related to the crash – possibly a hit-run driver; they reported finding a car “in a ditch.”

(Thanks to Tony for the photo – taken before police/fire arrived)
8:58 AM: If you haven’t left yet, avoid Avalon Way – at Genesee, traffic is going one direction at a time in the aftermath of a crash involving a motorcycle.

9:04 AM: All lanes now back open. At least one person is hurt; a private ambulance was just leaving as we got there (which indicates non-life-threatening injuries). We’re checking on their condition.

10:33 AM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB the injured person was the motorcycle rider, “sitting and conscious when (firefighters from Ladder 11) arrived. They examined him and found no obvious major injuries. The rider, who was in his 30’s, was wearing his helmet. AMR transported him to Harborview as a precaution.”

10:33 PM: Just got a note from Ray, who identifies himself as the motorcycle rider hurt this morning. He says he left the Harborview trauma center with “a few dozen stitches and 3 fractured toes.” He wanted to thank the witnesses who helped him; from what he knows of what happened, Ray says, the van driver “did not see me coming and pulled out onto SW Avalon (left turn) and hit me on the right side (I was heading northbound toward the bridge, down the hill).” He recalls that the driver seemed “apologetic.”

10:55 PM: We’ve received a few reports of a loud explosion-type sound within the past hour; fire crews went to the Ercolini Park area but cleared out fairly quickly, and now they’re in that area again. (minutes later) The second crew has not found any signs of a fire or other problem, so they’re clearing out too.

11:13 PM: Our crew went to the areas that fire crews responded to – no fire, no police, nothing going on. (added) We’re checking with the precinct, but in the meantime, commenters here and on Facebook say it appears to have been something set off in the Ercolini Park porta-potty.

11:31 AM WEDNESDAY: Confirmed by SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore – “At 9:48 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to reports of port a potty fire in the alley near the park at 48th Avenue SW/ SW Alaska Street. The firefighters did not find a fire but discovered fireworks set off inside the port a potty. At 10:50 p.m. Engine Company 32 responded to 4500 block of 48th Avenue SW to reports of an explosion at the park near the port a potty. A caller said it sounded like an M80. There was no fire at this scene. The Fire Investigators were notified of both incidents.”

(Photographed by Machel Spence in Fauntleroy during Sunday morning’s low-low tide, long before last night’s overflow – don’t go there today!)

From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

NO BRIDGE CLOSURES SCHEDULED TILL THE WEEKEND: Just in case you’re wondering. The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will close Saturday night till Monday morning, but SDOT says no closures are planned till then.

NEW ‘NO PARKING’ ZONE: Starting today, there’s no more parking along SW Alaska between California and 42nd, per SDOT (here’s our Friday followup). This is the first phase of parking removal in some Junction/Triangle spots, mostly along SW Alaska, related to the future RapidRide bus service.

LOU’S MAKE-A-WISH RUN: As previewed earlier this morning, Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler is scheduled for his annual birthday “one-lap-for-every-year” run today, raising money to make dreams come true for seriously ill children via Make-A-Wish, with which he’s been volunteering for 16 years. Should last until noonish; you can donate now or later by going here.

LOW-LOW TIDE: At 11:19 am, today’s low tide will be very low, down to -3.7. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Lincoln and Constellation Parks, 9:30 am-1 pm, to offer info and guidance to visitors. Tread lightly – remember the tide leaves many creatures exposed who otherwise would be underwater.

WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: The club’s theme this week is peppers – cook something with them, bring it to share, 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).

ANTI-INFLAMMATION DIET: A new round of classes starts at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) at 6:30 pm (information in our calendar listing).

10:16 AM: Big initial response to a crash that just happened at Delridge and Willow, but most of the units have been turned back, since it wasn’t what was originally reported – a car hitting a building, which meant an initial “heavy rescue” call, since downgraded. Our crew’s on the way and we’ll update.

10:25 AM: An ambulance is being called for the driver, no major injuries reported. Our crew at the scene says this is at the Willow Court Apartments, where a chain-link fence stopped the car from crashing into a play structure. Traffic is still moving both ways on Delridge, but slowly. Photo to come added.

10:44 AM: Adding a second photo – this is looking north on Delridge, and at left, you can see part of the wooden fence the car went through before going down the slope shown in the top photo; also note a tree was taken out, too. The driver was sitting up, conscious, even before the ambulance arrived, according to our crew.

7:33 AM: Developing story on Harbor/Alki – someone described by police as “suicidal and armed with a gun” is in a standoff with them just north of Don Armeni and at least part of Alki/Harbor is blocked off. SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson says negotiators are on the way as is SWAT. We will have reports from the scene shortly but needless to say, avoid the area. Det. Jamieson says nobody has been hurt so far.

7:39 AM UPDATE: Multiple reports narrow the area down to Luna/Anchor Park. Buses are being turned around.

7:53 AM UPDATE: Traffic is being allowed through the area again, according to our crew at the scene – the person apparently followed through with his threat, according to a witness who lives across the street. A photo she sent shows a yellow tarp where the person had been standing on the northwest corner of the Luna/Anchor Park pier. (She also sent the photo shown atop this story.)

If you or someone you know is thinking of or threatening self-harm, the 24-hour Crisis Clinic hotline for King County is 206-461-3222.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
All this had unfolded over the course of less than an hour – police first got the call just after 7 am, Det. Jamieson had told us during our original call.

ADDED 9:46 AM: There’s no information beyond what we have already reported, but for those interested, here is the official police summary on SPD Blotter.

ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: David DeSiga shared this photo from sunset Friday at the spot where this all happened: