A pedestrian crossing a rainy E Pine just before 2 AM Friday morning was struck by a car and seriously injured. This picture of the scene across the street from R Place was provided to us by @elise81. The victim was thrown to the pavement in the downhill westbound lane in front of the E Pine Stumptown.
We do not yet have details on the victim or the specifics of his or her condition. The victim was transported from the scene by Seattle Fire and taken to Harborview to be treated for injuries suffered in the impact.
We are also checking with SPD regarding the incident.
The crossing at the location does have a crosswalk but there are no traffic lights at the intersection. It can make for a challenging crossing during the day and a sketchy one on a wet night — and not just for pedestrians. As with similar crossings elsewhere on E Pine and E Pike, look both ways, yes, but also consider taking it slow if you are driving.
You know, a good fix for all the problems through Pike/Pine would be to make the streets one way… Pike one-way to the east. Pine one-way to the west… Hope the injured ped makes a quick recovery.
It’s a challenge for both pedestrians and drivers, especially late at night. The road isn’t well-lit, and I’ve had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting people that enter the crosswalk without looking. And I was going the speed limit. So everybody be careful.
Evidence, please? Many cities are turning one way streets into two way streets to slow down cars and improve safety for pedestrians. Turns out that one way streets encourage faster car travel.
If you’re slamming on your brakes you’re going too fast. Just because you’re going the speed limit doesn’t put you totally in the clear. Anything faster than 20 on this road is unnecessary and dangerous. This is pedestrian country and the person commandeering the deadly weapon needs to be prepared to stop at every intersection, yes, even for the unattentive dude walking while playing with his iPhone.
I asked SDOT to put some sort SOME SORT of sign, be it a yield sign, a pedestrian crossing sign, or a stop sign at the location after almost being hit by a drunk driver 6 months back. This is such a dangerous intersection. Their response? “No one has ‘actually’ been hurt here, so fuck off.”
How about now SDOT?
I really hope this person recovers.
I am both a walker in the hood as well as a driver. I have to agree to a certain length Boz….crossing the street while looking at your iPhone doesn’t really fit into what I learned as a 4 year old to look both ways before crossing. Just because The Stranger deems pedestrians the Gods and Goddess of Seattle does not mean that you immortal.
DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY THOUGH! We all know that Capitol Hill is a walker’s paradise so treat it as such and remember to let people cross the street.
I don’t know what this pedestrian was wearing, but too often on dark, rainy nights, people wear clothing that makes then virtually invisible to drivers. I’m not excusing the driver here, but if pedestrians would wear something that makes themselves more visible in these conditions, they would have a safer time crossing the street.
I personally like those flashing side walk strips. Those really draw attention to someone in a crosswalk!
Can I also say something to drivers on behalf of all humans that aren’t in cars? Most people do not want to die. There are some unattentive peds, but most people do look both ways before crossing. The thing is that most drivers do not know that they are required to stop (or choose to ignore the rule) when a pedestrian enters the roadway. Many times at this intersection, I have entered the roadway as a car was just crossing Harvard. Instead of slowing, the driver usually swerves around or speeds up to beat the pedestrian through the intersection. Nothing is that important.
Yes, peds need to be vigilant and if it looks like the drivers are going to gun it through the intersection, use your wits. Drivers, don’t gun it. Use judgement. Be responsible. You have the power to destroy a life.
Disagree, if you are engrossed in iPhone land and not paying attention to any predator, it’s your fault. Everyone is to play a part, not just drivers and not just walkers, and ESPECIALLY not inattentive walkers.
hear hear. It goes both ways. Drivers don’t want to hit peds, and pedestrians certainly don’t want to be run over. I wonder if there’s a structural change that needs to be made on this street to reduce the risks of a crash. We as a human race are stupid and careless and sometimes we need our surroundings to protect us a little bit more. Maybe this stretch of street needs to be improved.
not surprising. i’ve sent email to SDOT before and gotten the condescending pat on the head – don’t worry little child, according to our studies that intersection is fine.
the whole neighborhood needs those flashing crosswalks, but probably not going to happen in today’s economic environment unless people raise a stink about it. a handful of emails are easy to disregard.
haha, quoi?
Did we say anything about looking at your iphone? Didn’t we basically say that all parties need to pay attention? Yep.
Did I also make the claim that pedestrians are more attentive than many drivers give them credit for, based on not wanting to die? Yes, I did say that.
The other point– pedestrians need to realize, especially when they’ve been drinking (and isn’t that what describes CapHill at 2am?), that people in cars have been drinking too. Yes, it’s illegal and DUI and all that, but they’re still just as run-over, even though it was the driver’s fault. I’m a walker, and I’m a driver. Later at night on CapHill, whether I’ve got the right-of-way or not, I assume all drivers have been drinking, and cross accordingly. I don’t even trust the cross walk lights.
to scared pedestrian, slamming on the brakes does not mean you are going to fast. If I am going 20 mph or even less and am 15 feet away from the crosswalk when someone turns and decides to cross without looking, then I need to slam on my brakes. Yes, drivers must stop for pedestrians. Pedestrians must look both ways and allow time for a driver to see you and stop before you step into traffic.
You are right. People are correct in that vehicles are required to stop when pedestrians enter the roadway. There is a big ‘however’ to that as well though. If a pedestrian enters the roadway without looking and does not give a vehicle a reasonable amount of time to yield then the driver cannot be held at fault. The vehicle is not ALWAYS at fault. Driving around the hill most days I am shocked at the amount of folks who simply walk into the road without looking or considering what kind of vehicle traffic is around. Especially at night, when booze had taken effect. Who knows what happened in this case.
And, as someone else touched on, the amazing number of them that are gabbing on their cellphones and not paying attention as they walk. It’s absurd. It’s funny when they walk into a tree or parking meter, but it can be a lot more serious.
@Jim
Ditto. Any time after 11 pm on Thurs, Friday, and Saturday I assume drivers are intoxicated.
The moral of the story is that everyone should take steps to not let this happen. This means that everyone needs to take responsibility.
My take is that people commandeering cars should be approaching EVERY intersection in this area with the expectation that you will be stopping for an inattentive pedestrian and thus constantly being aware of your stopping distance. Slamming on the brakes implies you weren’t planning to stop.
The amazing number of them that are gabbing on their cellphones and not paying attention as they DRIVE. It’s absurd.
@scared pedestrian.
You are completely wrong on this one. You cannot just dart out into traffic. If I am driving along and see no pedestrians, then I am going to just drive right through, but when suddenly someone comes darting into the crosswalk, yes I will have to slam on my brakes. That is how cars and driving works.
We all have responsibilities to keep ourselves safe. That includes pedestrians
And anything over 20 is too fast? then maybe you should petition the city to have the speed limit lowered.
scared driver, I agree that drivers need to be very aware at intersections especially when driving in high use pedestrian areas. The point I was trying to make was that “slamming on the breaks” does not necessarily indicate going fast, driving over the speed limit, or not being attentive. If I am driving 5 mph and someone decides to step out into the road at the last second, I am slamming on my breaks.
@ scared driver
What about when a pedestrian is upon the street in the parking lane or the bike lane or the oncoming traffic lane, showing obvious intent to cross the street (looking at the driver/making walking motions/etc)? What’s the excuse for most drivers not giving a shit then?
Also, it’s sad to here that in this case, someone was either not paying attention, or maybe, did want to die.
If you’re driving through Pine and Boylston at 2AM, there is no excuse for hitting a pedestrian. Obviously distracted and impaired people are pouring out of every doorway. If you don’t slow way down, you’re just an idiot. If you’re driving and you’re distracted and impaired, that’s completely on you.
Please forget about the traffic light. Putting a traffic light there is expensive, it would hinder both cars and pedestrians during the day, and if R Place and Linda’s were to close their doors for some reason, it would be a complete waste at night too. If you’re going to do anything to that area, rip out that stupid obstacle course of a sidewalk to the west and put a turning lane back in the middle so cars can get past the stopped buses without gunning it.
I couldn’t possibly agree more. FYI to the person I came way too close to one rainy halloween night, if you’re wearing all black and the street isn’t well lit – you’re REALLY hard to pick up in my peripheral vision.
Be safe people. ‘Look both ways’ isn’t just for preschoolers.
You are all correct. Good job.
Their response? “No one has ‘actually’ been hurt here, so fuck off.”
I doubt very much that the SDOT person used that profane language, which you put in quotes.
But your implied point is well-taken. SDOT seems to have a very rigid policy of not taking action about a dangerous intersection unless there has been accidents/injuries there (the Department in general seems to often find a rationale for not doing its job). Why can’t they be a little proactive?
Darting is rarely done by attentive people walking that have no intention of dying. Even still, the person in control of a deadly device has a responsibility to be on guard for anything darting when driving through their or anyone else’s neighborhood…your girlfriend’s cat, a drunk homeless guy, whatever. Hell, they should even be on guard to slam on their brakes for that poor guy jumping out from behind a car trying to commit suicide (if that even happens)