All occupants walked away from the wreck unharmed but a reported two car crash at 16th and Thomas Saturday morning left one vehicle on its roof and the intersection closed for hours as traffic collision investigators responded to the scene.
All details are preliminary and have not been confirmed with police or Seattle Fire officials.
Emergency units were called to the intersection across from Group Health’s Capitol Hill campus just after 11a Saturday following the crash. Occupants of the car were reported to have been able to get out and were conscious and alert at the scene, according to Seattle Fire dispatch radio.
It’s not clear how the vehicle ended up on its roof at this time.
Thanks to reader Shane for the picture from the scene at the top of this post and @loashton for another angle, below.
As a community resource, CHS tries to give a fair and balanced look at the happenings on and around the Hill. When it comes to 16th and Thomas, however, our bias is clear — it’s our personal pet peeve and one of our least favorite intersections on Capitol Hill. Busy with pedestrians and the unmarked crossings, on a popular route for bikers heading both north-south and east-west, busy with cars *and* complicated by Metro stops on both sides of Thomas, the intersection is on our list of “wow, I can’t believe more crazy stuff doesn’t happen here.” Can’t say we would have predicted a crash like this, however.
I agree that this is one of the most dangerous intersections on the hill. Try crossing during morning rush hour on a sun-blinding day, with two small dogs as both directions of buses are stopped, blocking your vision. Make sure your will is up-to-date.
I travel through here daily. Not sure how a car could roll over as no one should ever be driving more than 15 mph in this area.
They should do away with parking on Thomas between 15th and 16th. So narrow already, the added clearance would be aid in safety.
I agree. Taking parking off of at least one side of Thomas would be helpful.
It’s pretty hard to roll a car these days. Excessive speed must have been involved. This will soon happen somewhere on 14th, which car drivers use as a 30-mph arterial. While texting. Note this: 14th between Pine and John will be next for stupid stuff like this.
No to this. Narrowing roadways with parking is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to calm traffic. Give drivers too much room and they speed up even more.
If you visit the intersection, everyone is either turning or just turned. More space won’t (or shouldn’t) equal more speeding. It will however allow for better pedestrian and bike visibility. As well as allow room for the articulated buses to properly make the turns and clear the 16th ave stop.
Lived here 20+ years. Seen more accidents there than anywhere else I can remember. 19th & Thomas is a runner up.
Observation bias, perhaps. It’s the neighborhood arterial I’ve spent most time on, to and from 15th, over the years, BUT 16th is the intersection I remember for accidents.
Any news on this accident? Cops were out there for 2+ hours & one person was taken away in an ambulance 1.5 hours after the accident. Haven’t been able to get this accident off my mind & how in the world a car was flipped over!