(Image: CHS)
The driver was in custody and there were no serious injuries reported after his small sedan ripped into the front of Capitol Hill’s Coastal Kitchen Tuesday night, destroying the entrance to the restaurant.
Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were called to the 400 block of 15th Ave E scene just before 7:15 PM to a report the driver had either swerved or intentionally rammed into the mid-block restaurant.
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A black KIA was pulled from the front of the building so the driver could be extracted and examined by Seattle Fire. The driver was in custody in the back of a police cruiser being interviewed by officers shortly after the wreck.
15th Ave E was filled with Seattle Fire and police vehicles responding to the vehicle rescue.
UPDATE: SPD said the driver was likely suffering a mental health crisis at the time of the incident and said witnesses reported the driver appeared to have crashed the car intentionally into the entrance of the building. The 63-year-old was taken to the hospital for observation after his arrest for investigation of DUI and property damage, according to police.
Seattle Fire confirmed there were no serious injuries. UPDATE: A spokesperson said the driver was transported to the hospital in stable condition after being interviewed by police. Seattle Fire also put temporary shoring in place to help stabilize the building.
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Some 911 callers reported that the driver was heard making threats about a firearm from inside the vehicle after the crash.
UPDATE: According to SPD’s brief on the incident, police say they were initially called to the area for reports of the man “running up to businesses stating that people with guns were trying to kill him.” Police say the man admitted to ramming the restaurant “to get a faster police response.”
Coastal Kitchen has served the neighborhood for nearly 30 years, reopening from months of lockdown closure in May 2021. Its masonry building dates to 1924.
The restaurant announced it will remain closed for repairs.
“As great as the food is, please don’t park INSIDE the restaurant!,” Coastal Kitchen joked on Instagram after Tuesday night’s incident. “We have indoor seating, not parking.”
Via @coastalkitchencapitolhill: “We will be closed to rebuild, but will be back as soon as we can. Looking forward to having everyone back asap! Thank you and see you soon!”
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Thanks for covering this!
Great. Seattle Times says it was a person “in crisis” and it was intentional. Wonderful.
The Seattle Times reporting: “The driver was likely in a state of crisis and appears to have crashed into the restaurant intentionally, Seattle police Detective Valerie Carson said.”
Is “state of crisis” the current euphemism for high on drugs? Unless the driver experienced a spontaneously occurring physiological disorder, “state of crisis” is no defense for intentional property destruction and attempted vehicular homicide. At least, I hope not.
You, on the other hand, are completely without recurring rage issues.
Dear pot: please meet “kettle.”
Hey pot steamy much?? Hey kettle don’t let pot boil ya over!!
You should be a prison abolitionist