(Image: SDOT)
A two-car collision left a path of destruction along E Madison including at least one city utility pole leaning precariously across the roadway after it was struck by an out of control vehicle that also decimated another pole before coming to a rest near 13th Ave.
The crash was reported near 15th and Madison just before 4 PM and reportedly involved at least two vehicles and at least two utility poles.
Large booms were reported across the area, possibly from the crash and electrical transformers triggered by the utility line damage.
UPDATE 5:15 PM: Preliminary information from SPD indicates an unfortunate set of circumstances that quickly escalated into a terrible mess. According to police, the two cars collided near 15th and Madison. When the driver of the SUV exited his vehicle to exchange information, he reportedly did not engage the heavy vehicle’s parking brake and it quickly began to roll out of control down E Madison for two blocks where it smashed into the second pole.
Appears to be a multi-car incident with another car all the way up between 14th and 15th totaled. Truck that smashed into power poles is way down on 13th. Someone was going way too fast and it took nearly a block and a half + a power pole to stop them. cc @jseattle pic.twitter.com/s3UzKTsmw2
— Paul Britton (@paulstorms) December 9, 2020
— Jennifur85 (@Jennifur85) December 9, 2020
Pictures and reports from the scene show two crashed vehicles resting against utility poles, one at 15th and Madison and another at 13th and Madison. In between, debris and a school zone sign were strewn along the road and sidewalk.
Seattle Fire was called to the scene for injuries in the crash but we do not have further details. UPDATE: SFD reports no serious injuries in the crash.
Seattle City Light reported around 80 600 customers without power immediately following the crash. Crews were being called out to address the situation.
E Madison was closed to traffic in the area during the emergency response and as City Light determined what it needed to do to restore power and secure the area.
UPDATE 12/9/20 7:50 AM: Crews worked into the early morning to restore power in the area with reports of the lights coming back on around 2 AM.
Meanwhile, Paul Britton has posted video from his weather cam that captured the scene of the SUV rolling down E Madison before colliding with the pole before the video abruptly cuts off when the power went out:
Whoa! My weather cam caught the truck going down the street, hazards blinking as it slams into the power pole. Sparks fly and then my electrical power is cut and the feed is too. cc @jseattle @TedLandK5 pic.twitter.com/GRJFtXmJk3
— Paul Britton (@paulstorms) December 9, 2020
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Anyone anyone else lose Wave from this? We’re at 13th and E Marion and Wave is down not answering.
Wave G is not working at my building on 15th
Yes. Newest update from them says 12AM internet should resume- we’ll see.
Yeah Wave still not working at 15th & Spring
Yes! We are in the same area and it is Down! Wave recording say they hope to have it restored by 11pm.
When I called Wave they had an estimated restore time of 9:30 this am.
We have no Wave, either. They said there was an outage in my area. That’s before U saw this article. I appreciate the reporting.
Before *I* saw the article, sorry. Typing on my phone!
We still have no power and don’t expect to have it back til morning.
No Wave yet at 13th-15th / Spring-Marion
Power back at 2AM. Thank you Seattle City Light for working all night in the rain.
Wave working here now.