UPDATE 10/14/10 10:00 AM: SPD and Seattle Fire this morning confirmed that a woman was struck while crossing 12th Ave mid-block Wednesday night. A SPD spokesperson tells us the driver was tested for impairment at the scene but was not found to have been driving under the influence. The woman, who was crossing 12th outside of the crosswalk area, was seriously injured and transported to Harborview but her injuries were not thought to be life threatening.
Original Report: A man woman was taken to the hospital tonight with serious injuries after being struck by a car in the 1700 block of 12th Ave. Police and fire responded to the scene near 12th and Howell just after 7:50 PM. We do not yet have information on the man’s woman’s condition.
Both lanes of 12th Ave were closed as emergency crews attended to the victim. We’ll need to confirm details with SPD but it does not appear that the driver was investigated for impairment UPDATE: SPD was investigating the possibility that the driver was impaired and a drug recognition was called to the scene.
The collision occurred about two blocks south of the last 12th Ave vehicle vs. pedestrian incident we covered in July.
It wasn’t a man, it was a woman.
Thanks for note. Initial info we have is that victim was male. We’ll confirm with Seattle fire asap.
Did the pedestrian enter the crosswalk and the driver didn’t see him/her?
I happened to be walking by, well after the incident took place but before all the emergency personnel had left,and it appeared the collision took place mid-block. There are no crosswalks at either end of this block, where Howell and Olive both cross 12th avenue.
Updated above with more details from SPD and fire. Yes, the pedestrian was crossing mid-block, not in a crosswalk, not from a corner. Which doesn’t make it any less painful and unfortunate.
I hope that the group that is working to make changes to 12th Ave will prioritize pedestrian safety. I’ve seen so many near accidents and have also seen pedestrians and bicyclists hit by cars on this street. We need more crosswalks and some means of slowing traffic speeds on 12th!
The Neighborhood Plan (from nearly a decade ago) identified the 12th & Howell intersection as a critical one needing improvement due to the number of people going to and from Cal Anderson Park. Cars rarely stop for pedestrians at any of the uncontrolled/signaled intersections between Pine and John.
12th & Howell would be a great one to provide improvements similar to what SDOT did down at Seattle U: crosswalks with bulb-outs and textured paving (real pavers, not stamped up here though).
i used to live in the condemned houses on Howell that are now butt ugly condos/apt buildings and one day in the late 90’s there was an incident at the corner. I think it was pretty serious since there was spray paint marks all over 12th, including a circle around one lone pump. Never found out what happened to the most likely young lady that was hit by the car that day, but the image of the pump with orange spray paint around it has been in my mind ever since. Hope she pulled through and my same thoughts are with the latest incident at this very dangerous stretch.
Has anyone else noticed how much easier it is to cross John now that there is a marked crosswalk at 10th? I can’t believe how much more quickly people stop for me. Even though every intersection is a crosswalk, and drivers are REQUIRED to stop for pedestrians at every intersection, having them marked makes a HUGE difference.
We definitely need more marked crosswalks on 12th.
Get used to it…the coming of the streetcar & cycle track on B’way will push a lot more of the thru traffic onto 12th, plus more out of neighborhood people circling looking for parking.
Of course it doesn’t make it any less of a tragedy. I only ask because I hope people can learn something from these accidents.
Sorry for he lame comment, but this is from the last sentence:
“…two blocks south of the last 12th Ave vehicle vs. car incident we covered in July”
all i can say is it’s been a tough week. thanks. fixed