Update: One woman has died in the crash that blocked 15th Ave W. for several hours yesterday. According to the SPD Blotter, the accident was caused by a young man who was speeding. From the SPD:
It all started at approximately 6:23 a.m. Based on preliminary investigation, Seattle Police Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives believe the adult male driver of a 2006 Jeep SUV was traveling north in the 1400 block of Elliott Avenue West W. A 1998 Cadillac Deville was stopped facing southbound in the center turn lane at the same location waiting to make a left turn into a business parking lot. For reasons yet to be determined, the Jeep driver crossed the center turn lane, traveled north in the southbound lanes, side-swiped the Cadillac and then struck a southbound 1998 Subaru Outback. The Jeep driver continued north in the southbound lanes and collided with and/or caused five additional vehicles to collide.
The woman who died was 56 years old and was the sole occupant of the Subaru Outback. The other four drivers who were hospitalized had non-life-threatening injuries, and the Jeep driver was among those injured. No citations have been issued yet.
Original post:Five people have been sent to Harborview Medical Center after a multi-car crash at 6:30 a.m. at the 1400 block of Elliott Avenue West. One woman has critical injuries, according to our news partners The Seattle Times.
Mark Jamieson with the Seattle Police Department tells us the accident involved seven cars, and completely blocked 15th Ave W. early this morning morning, meaning backups for the commute downtown from Ballard. He says that the southbound lane is still closed; northbound is open, but traffic is moving very slowly. Jamieson says there are detectives on the scene, and that drivers should avoid the area if possible.
We’ll update with new information when it becomes available.
