Two hit-and-run accidents leave trail of damage

Two separate hit-and-run accidents in Ballard this weekend left a trail of damage of five parked cars, trees, a fence and a front yard.

The latest accident happened at 9 p.m. on Saturday night. A car traveling westbound on 65th St. bounced off one parked car and collided with another, pushing it into two more parked cars. A homeowner quickly called police, and she tells us she heard the heavily-damaged car drive a few block away.

“Several residents were awoken to the sound of a blue Toyota Tacoma pickup with severe front end damage, riding on its front rims, careening down 14th Ave NW, followed by numerous cars who had apparently witnessed this truck being involved in a hit and run accident,” explains My Ballard reader Joseph. The car was abandoned on 61st near 14th, and witnesses tell us that the driver was able to escape. Several trees and a planter were damaged.

In a separate incident Friday after 11 p.m., “The driver of a black truck smashed into my neighbors car and drove into the other neighbors yard,” said Saffa in an email. “Then accelerated after the impact and drove through the other side of the fence, demolishing their yard.” Saffa says the driver escaped, but police found a license plate that fell off the vehicle at the scene.

“Those of us who live on NW 85th see this type of thing all summer long as Golden Gardens closes at 11 pm and people who have been drinking get behind the wheel and drive,” Saffa explains. (Thanks Saffa and Joseph for the photos.)