Car Accident Near Eckstein Kills Two, Injures Two

I don't have many details but a pick-up truck struck four pedestrians near Eckstein, at 33rd Avenue NE and NE 75th at around 4:10 p.m.  (That is right at the northeast corner of the school.)  I have a call into SPS Communications to find out if this involved staff or students.

Two people were apparently killed outright and a 25-year old woman and an infant were in serious condition and taken to the Harborview.

The police are saying the driver may have been under the influence.

This comes on the heels of complaints about pedestrians trying to cross in that area.  For those of you who don't know it, Eckstein sits at the top of a hill so coming over either side of it, you immediately start picking up speed.  There is a crosswalk with a push-to-call light right at Eckstein but no other marked crosswalks are there until you get to 35Ave NE.

Comments

Jan said…
Horrific news, Melissa. I hope the two who are at Harborview will be ok. You think you have one life going on -- and then, in a blink . . . .
mirmac1 said…
My prayers are for the victims involved.
Anonymous said…
More information at ravennablog.com.

NEP
Anonymous said…
I have heard that the pedestrians may have been new to the area and not have understood the problems with 75th.

HP
Actually, the problem was the driver had two prior DUIs, within the last 6 months.
biliruben said…
We need to start taking death by automobile more seriously. I don't care much about jail time, but this guy should have had his car impounded and his drivers license shredded. He clearly was making regular decisions which showed willful disregard for human life.
Patrick said…
The drivers recent DUIs apparently haven't been to trial yet. He does have a terrible record even prior to the last six months, though. Why do you have to kill someone to get your license revoked?

NE 75th St. is a pretty dangerous street. There's weaving because of the sometimes one lane, sometimes two lane layout of the street, and the main travel lane turning into a left turn lane at 35th Ave. There's people stopped in the curb lane westbound to drop their kids off at Eckstein, even when it's a no parking zone (and I understand Eckstein tries to discourage that). The crosswalks are unmarked, except for the one at the top of the hill. It might not have helped with this drunk driver, but the whole stretch needs traffic calming measures: paint all crosswalks, make it one lane each way and put bulbs so pedestrians can see who is coming, put in a flashing lights school zone sign.
Lori said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said…
Cars and alcohol will haunt us until the government, meaning us, steps up to the plate and demands action. The ads, the bars, the product placement on tv and in movies. The money is huge in booze and the costs are borne by us all. It's like the guns, profitting off the pain and death of others is OK, just get a good lobby. Boozers are losers. You know, in France now, one must have a breathelyzer in every car, so if you get nailed drunk, there is no excuse and they throw the book hard. I drove past yesterday and it just makes you want to cry and cry and its literally right in front of the school. We've got to slow down and there are many ways to make it happen. There is the 20 is Plenty movement from Great Britain and new ideas in traffic calming from Germany and other countries. Lets get on the mayor and council to stop this needless carnage.

Scared
Anonymous said…
From the Wedgwood Community Council...There will be a community meeting next Tuesday, April 2nd, at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center gymnasium (6535 Ravenna Ave NE), from 7-9PM. Peter Hahn (SDOT Director) and a representative of the Seattle Police will be there. Other City staff/departments may come as well but have yet to confirm. The meeting is open to everyone.

Also links to the various funds set up to help the victims family at http://wedgwoodcc.org/

-StepJ
Jan said…
I wish they would put in the kind of crosswalk that the put across James a few years ago -- where the Seattle U kids step out into crazy traffic coming down a long hill. The crosswalk had something (automatic or a button) that made the entire crosswalk -- all the way across the street) flash with lights. (They also eventually put a skybridge in -- but only because there was a building on one side of the street for it to connect to). 75th has way too much traffic, and too many hills. Admittedly, maybe this guy's problem was impairment (I haven't heard the results of tox tests) but whereever you have high traffic, distracted (or young) pedestrians in large numbers, and hills or other sightline problems, we need to do more than just painted lines on the street.
mirmac1 said…
Well, I hate to spring it on you ala SPS fashion, but the trial balloon was floated for ticketing cameras posted on yellow busses for paddle violations.

So I'm asking. What do you think about this?
kellie said…
There is a fundraiser for the family.

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/aTM78
Unknown said…
Great post. Much like Seattle, it seems like there are way too many car accidents in Newfoundland. But what do these two places even have in common? Thanks again.
Unknown said…
It is great and unique news for me about the accident and I hope that they both now recovered from their injuries which they received in the accident.
auto transport , car transport , free auto transport quotes
Jeff said…
http://www.mypersonalinjuryguide.com/seattle-personal-injury-attorney

I hope the family does whatever they can to get whatever can be salvaged of their life. Maybe something legal or judicial can be done to prove the case for lights or signs or whatever else needs to be done to make the area safer.

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