Everbody here OK? Porsche accident downdown today - someone died

WolfeMacleod · 05-04-2008, 06:57 PM

Just heard on the news that downtown on Westlake a sedan of some sort ended up on top of an unspecified Porsche, killing the driver. Ther didn't say what time...

Everyone here OK? Can we get a roll call?

Jeff Higgins · 05-04-2008, 07:30 PM

Ouch. We're all accounted for. Of course none of the three Porsches in the house are currently on the road, either.

LakeCleElum · 05-04-2008, 08:11 PM

Not me.....Does not sound like the Porsche driver's fault? RIP

bonkers · 05-04-2008, 09:27 PM

Not me. I don't like taking my Scooby downtown, much less the Porsche.

Seattle Times says the Porsche was a convertible. Sobering thought.

WOLVERINE · 05-04-2008, 09:44 PM

Man killed, two injured in head-on car crash

By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
P-I REPORTER

One man was killed and two people were rushed to Harborview Medical Center late Sunday afternoon after a head-on car crash that shut down traffic on Westlake Avenue North.

The man was driving a convertible southbound in the 2500 block of Westlake Avenue North when his car collided with a Ford Taurus, Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Sue Stangl said. A woman riding in the convertible was listed in critical condition Sunday evening. The Taurus' driver was in serious condition. All three were believed to be in their 20s, Stangl said.

Police spokesman Mark Jamieson said both northbound and southbound traffic on Westlake Avenue North would likely be stopped for several hours while police investigated the crash, which happened about 5 p.m.

"The convertible actually ended up under the sedan," Stangl said.

Southbound traffic on Westlake Avenue North was being diverted to Dexter Avenue North.

RIP

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

I didn't drive the car today, at least I didn't have to go into the office this weekend. Though maybe I should have driven the car with the weather as nice as it was. I work downtown and have been cut off so many times it isn't even funny. Metro buses if you don't already know have the right of way so to speak and the drivers are always in the middle of the intersection when their light is red. Also if you ever drive Fifth Avenue, watch out for the idiot that crosses underneath the concrete supports to make that turn or get that parking space, many do so without even looking.

LakeCleElum · 05-04-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harlan Chinn

I didn't drive the car today, at least I didn't have to go into the office this weekend. Though maybe I should have driven the car with the weather as nice as it was. I work downtown and have been cut off so many times it isn't even funny. Metro buses if you don't already know have the right of way so to speak and the drivers are always in the middle of the intersection when their light is red. Also if you ever drive Fifth Avenue, watch out for the idiot that crosses underneath the concrete supports to make that turn or get that parking space, many do so without even looking.

Ur right about the buses Harlan - A little known law was passed about 7 or 8 years ago: A bus waiting to pull into traffic only has to put on their signal and then they can pull out, w/o waiting to yield to oncoming traffic. That means if you can lock 'em up and not hit the car beside you, it's all good. I disagree, but it's the current law!

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Yikes...I'm not from the Big Town but have been down there the last couple of days at Seattle Pacific U watching my daughter playing club volleyball. Today we had some slack times and ventured over to Fremont and the street fair. We saw no less than 6 or 7 Boxter's(one of the drivers holding a bust of Jesus while driving) on the road and a newer Carrera.

Saw no older iron except on Saturday on I-5 in the driving rain, a good looking white SC heading South near Federal Way.

This is so sad.

lilacRS · 05-05-2008, 09:54 AM

I use that stretch of Westlake Ave N regularly to get to Fremont/Ballard. You can go pretty fast around there as its just past all the boat shops/restaurants.

As for the buses, I just watch for their blinkers and just let them merge if the driver signals. Its the drivers who don't signal and just try to squeeze in that make me mad. Its just part of living/driving in the city, besides the morons jabbing on the phone and not paying attention, you have to watch for pedestrians at every corner and the buses at the stops.

sbrown.nw · sbrown.nw's Garage

I had the Targa out yesterday but stayed on the Eastside country roads making a run from 405 / I-90 through Fall City, Bothell and back to Juanita. Was very nice out.

Sorry to hear about the incident. Must have been going reasonably fast to have the Tarus end up on top of the 911 - yikes!

Scott

Porsche-poor · 05-05-2008, 10:35 AM

Saw this on the news last night, not much left of the Porsche.

john walker's workshop · 05-05-2008, 01:43 PM

from kiro 7 news.

teenerted1 · 05-05-2008, 01:51 PM

ouch....i did lawn work

that grass sure gets tall when the sunny weekends are so far appart.

Sizzle · Sizzle's Garage

There's a little 'kink' turn on sb Westlake there...it'd be real easy to overcook that one at 50-55 in the wet you'd be done-fer. I'd tiptoe thru there in my Carrera for this very reason. Something tells me this was more like 70mph This is a sad way to go.

teenerted1 · 05-05-2008, 03:40 PM

speed limit there is 35mph. i dont think i have ever bothered more than 40 thru there NB . south bound it is kind of blind till you get further around that building against the hill.

Rich Lambert · Rich Lambert's Garage

Ouch...how sad.

That looks more like a T-bone than a head-on.

gtc · gtc's Garage

I agree. Maybe the taurus was speeding and the guy in the boxster pulled out in front of them?
I have to admit, while I'm wary of drunks coming out of the clubs/restaurants down there, I usually speed through that section. I'll certainly drive more conservatively through there from now on.

lilacRS · 05-05-2008, 04:34 PM

The news reports stated the Porsche was SB, and in the picture, the wreck ended up resting in the NB lanes but smashed on the drivers side....so one other theory is that the Boxster lost control and had spun out or slid sideways in front of the Taurus.

In any case, I'll be slowing down over there as well....

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Wow, I was on that road heading South about a minute prior to the accident.

Looks like way too much speed and got sideways looking at the impact.

ronin · 05-06-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Ur right about the buses Harlan - A little known law was passed about 7 or 8 years ago: A bus waiting to pull into traffic only has to put on their signal and then they can pull out, w/o waiting to yield to oncoming traffic. That means if you can lock 'em up and not hit the car beside you, it's all good. I disagree, but it's the current law!

that's incorrect. there is no written law that authorizes a bus driver to use his vehicle as a battering ram, although some of them sometimes think they do. on the contrary, the law actually states that "Nothing in this section shall operate to relieve the driver of a transit vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the roadway." the bus driver still has a responsibility to watch for traffic and cannot simply pull out with total disregard