The latest bout of rain and wind made for dangerous streets around the Central District and Capitol Hill Tuesday. The Seattle Fire Department responded to at least two incidents in which drivers hit pedestrians and a handful more motor vehicle crashes in the area on the blustery day.
In an incident reported just after 4:30 PM, a 61-year-old woman was in stable condition after being struck by a driver as she crossed at Broadway and Thomas. The woman was transported to Harborview for further treatment.
A collision reported at 12th and Cherry also sent one to the hospital. Seattle Fire says it was called to the intersection just before 9 PM where a 29-year-old woman was struck by a driver. She was also taken to Harborview for treatment.
Meanwhile, SFD was called out to respond to significant motor vehicle collisions reported at MLK and Columbia, Marion and MLK, 23rd and E Olive St, and 19th and Denny on the day.
According to East Precinct records, none of the day’s crashes involved DUI arrests. CHS reported here on SPD’s decision to roll out a DUI squad for the holidays for the first time since 2019.
The collisions come as Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin representing South Seattle has called on the public to aid in the investigation after a cyclist was killed by a hit and run driver this week on Beacon Hill.
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wasn’t there a hit and run at 13th & Cherry not too long ago? Drivers need to slow down, the time saved isn’t worth it at all! Put speed cameras on every street ASAP!
Saw the Thomas and Broadway come across and was curious on the circumstances there, hope she’s okay.
Looks like there’s an obvious speed problem on our arterials. SPEED BUMPS PLEAAAAASEEEEE. Those intersections on MLK are so treacherous to cross when people drive 40+ through there between Union and Cherry (and the rest of MLK). And that intersection at 12th and Cherry is ESPECIALLY bad because of how the two eastbound lanes coming downhill through Seattle U get merged into one lane, where traffic in the right lane is given the option to race the left lane through the light, using a bike lane and temporary-loading parallel parking spots to shoot the gap…only literal feet before another heavily trafficked crosswalk, where if I’m remembering correctly, a man was hit by a car earlier this year. Cherry gets used like an absolute car sewer because of its connection to the highway at 7th and James. We need physical speed mitigation, road narrowing and raised crosswalks at every intersection.
Drivers here are coddled and their entitled and impulsive behavior is a scourge that needs to be eradicated through a massive push for public transit and increased pedestrian safety measures. Mayor Wilson, we need your expertise!!!
Part of the problem is SPD stopped enforcing certain traffic laws for racial equity and traffic enforcement is rarely done if at all due to staffing issues so people have gotten used to not following the law. Hardly any drivers stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk or intersection even though state law requires them too. I could go on but any pedestrian knows what I’m talking about. SPD would take in $$ if hey did a few enforcment stings. We will never reach vision zero without enforcement.