UPDATE 11:37 AM:
Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen cleared up why last night’s emergency response appeared to be so large:
This was a four car motor vehicle accident. Seattle Fire did not transport any patients, though two people went to the hospital in private ambulances. The multiple units were on the 911 log because dispatchers assigned some units to the call and then turned them around when other closer units came available. Engine 25, Medic 1 and Ladder 10 were the units that actually responded.
Original Report:
A 4-car collision closed 10th Ave Thursday night and forced traffic to be re-routed through Eastlake. Medic crews were dispatched to the 2000 block of 10th Ave E starting around 6:19 PM. (Fire department says 4 cars this morning. Scanner chatter indicated 5 last night)
From last night’s scanner chatter, we learned that a caller reported a multiple-car pileup was blocking both lanes of 10th Ave. Police initially believed the accident involved a hit and run but the driver was subsequently found at the scene being treated by one of the responding emergency crews. The passenger in one of the vehicles did leave the scene of the accident and was being tracked down by responding officers.
We’re checking with Seattle Fire to find out more but it appears the accident involved serious injuries. We also found a few tweets about the bus re-route — this one came in around 8 PM:
yood: Seattle 49 riders: accident on 10th and boston is blocking all 49s going between cap hill and u district. looks pretty bad.
A friend of mine was in a five car pileup on her way home yesterday…if this was the same traffic FUBAR she was in, it may reassure you all to note that she’s doing fairly well (at home, not hospital) considering that her car is totalled.
I caught a glimpse of this accident at 6:45pm while driving (taking the turn from Boston to 10th going north). The accident was actually just south of E. Boston St (map shows it further south). All cars going up the hill had to take the left at Boston and wing it from there.
Accident looked like cars were sprawled all across the road (north facing car in the southbound lane against parked cars) and a lot of police, fire, etc.