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Police searching for truck driver after First Hill pedestrian struck and killed at one of city’s most dangerous intersections — UPDATE

UPDATE 8/1/2014: SPD says it has identified the driver in Thursday’s incident:

SPD Traffic Collision detectives have identified the truck and driver involved in the collision and are still investigating the cause of the incident. Police have not arrested the driver of the truck, who is employed by a local waste management company, under contract with the city.

Cleanscapes has confirmed that the collision involved one of its vehicles and drivers.

This map from a 2010 SDOT study showed the dangerous conditions for pedestrians around 9th and James

This map from a 2010 SDOT study showed the dangerous conditions for pedestrians around 9th and James

Original Report: A person crossing the street near 8th and James was struck by a large commercial truck and killed Thursday afternoon near a First Hill crossing that is one of the most dangerous in Seattle. Police are searching for more information about the truck and the driver who left the scene of the 3:30 PM incident.

Seattle Fire and police rushed to the collision Thursday but the medic response was quickly canceled as arriving crews found the victim dead at the scene. Witnesses told police that a large commercial truck struck the pedestrian and did not stop. “Police do not yet know if the driver was aware they had struck the victim, and have not yet established whether this is an intentional hit and run case,” an SPD spokesperson wrote in the department’s initial report on the incidentThe victim has not yet been publicly identified. UPDATE: The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Rebecca Scollard. Her most recent address is listed as the Seattle Housing Authority’s low-income Denny Terrace building at 100 Melrose Ave E. She has also been a resident in transitional housing on Belmont Ave.

Police were interviewing witnesses and had located cameras near the scene that may have captured images of the truck or the incident. Investigators remained on scene into the night to collect evidence. If you have any information that may aid the investigation, call 911.

The block where the collision occurred has repeatedly been identified as one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in the city. Ironically, it is located at the entrance to Harborview Medical Center.

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Ryan on Summit
Ryan on Summit
9 years ago

Time for Seattle to have a goal of zero pedestrian deaths, much as New York is trying to do right now.

Ben
Ben
9 years ago

Its kind of a blind hill there, hazardous for everybody. If we could get some sort of flashing pedestrian crossing sign or wired up to the crosswalk button it might help.

rob
rob
9 years ago

Please use crosswalks! People don’t think and just run across the street. Cars are required to follow proper paths for the safety of drivers and pedestrians, this person wasn’t using a crosswalk. Hit and run is inexcusable, but when you break certain laws you’re putting yourself at great risk.

pragmatic
pragmatic
9 years ago
Reply to  rob

nice victim blaming, dude.

C
C
9 years ago

I am so sorry for her family and this tragic situation. I go through that intersection daily, I see pedestrians not using the crosswalks often- and even crossing blatantly in front of posted “do not cross here” signs. I have no clue on the specifics of this case, but it is a reminder that we all share the roads and to be mindful of the traffic laws that are there to help protect us, whether you’re on foot, bike, or car.

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[…] Hill pedestrian death update: Police have identified the driver of a Cleanscapes garbage truck that struck and killed a 42-year-old Capitol Hill woman in an apparent hit and run last week but say it’s not clear that the driver knew he ran the […]

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[…] Capitol Hill Seattle reports that the intersection is one of the most dangerous spots in Central Seattle for people on foot. A busy and very steep four-lane street, James is one of the few streets that passes under I-5 between First Hill and downtown. There is a lot of high density housing in the area and a huge number of jobs at nearby medical centers, including Harborview. […]

Summer
Summer
9 years ago

How is the owner of Scollard’s building relevant? Or does CHS have a new policy of reporting everyone’s housing costs?

Marie
Marie
9 years ago

What’s the update on how this happened to this poor soul, or do we not care because she was a recovering addict?

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[…] July 21st a Cleanscapes truck driver struck and killed Jessica Scollard,42, in broad daylight as she crossed 8th and James — an intersection known to be among the […]

Jerimy
Jerimy
9 years ago

I will say this, as a pedestrian in Seattle car drivers do not respect pedestrians. There needs to be tougher laws on drivers. Such as pedestrians having the right of way. If a driver strikes a pedestrian there should be legal ramifications. It is funny because on these side roads there is not defensive driving going on in Seattle. Drivers plow through side roads going at 40 miles per hour or faster. In downtown you always hear about drivers hitting out of town people.