Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Greenwood

Meghan Walker Ballard

An 80-year-old woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle on New Year’s Eve at the intersection of N 85th Street and Palatine Avenue N.

According to the Seattle Police Department Blotter, the collision happened at 6pm on Dec. 31, when a 74-year-old male driver hit the woman. Seattle Fire medics on the scene immediately transported her to Harborview Medical Center for emergency treatment.

Detectives were on site to collect forensic evidence, interview the driver and witnesses.

A qualified officer evaluated the driver for signs of impairment, but found none.

14 thoughts to “Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Greenwood”

  1. Not sure if the city is still focused on Vision Zero or not, or if it’s taking suggestions. If it is, I recommend creating more intersections with flashing lights in order to get drivers’ attention. It’s certainly the responsibility of the drivers, and they should have to pay consequences, but the city should also do its best to make things safe for pedestrians/cyclists.

      1. you’re absolutely not wrong, except maybe on the percentage. way too many people are texting. i’ve seen cyclists hit by people not texting too though, and flashing lights at more intersections allowing pedestrians/cyclists to cross safely (like the one by the QFC) would help tremendously to make things safer

    2. It’s not just the responsibility of the drivers, but also the responsibility of the pedestrians to be seen and keep themselves safe. Wearing all dark clothing at night and assuming every driver can see and know exactly what you along with every other pedestrians doing, is just not smart. Throw in the problem of so many peds with earbuds and being hyper-focused on their phones, and there is even more risk. Not sure about the specific details of this accident, but nonetheless we all share the responsibility to keep ourselves and others in our community safe.

        1. It’s tragic and I hope she makes a full recovery too.

          Unless you know more than the rest of us, and know she didn’t step out in front of the car, we can’t know who is at fault. The ped is not always the victim. Either way it’s still not JUST the responsibility of the drivers as fluggermutation said.

          1. 1. Not matter what clothes you are wearing, it does not give someone the right to slam their car into you.
            2. The attitude of you Ballardites (specifically you and Uncle Buck), that cars are surpreme and everything else needs to yield to them is just awful.

          2. 1. Where did I say anyone has a right to “slam their car into” anyone?

            2. I’m a bike commuter of 15 years, a pedestrian and a driver. I actually want less cars on the road. I don’t think cars are supreme in any way. You obviously don’t know me at all, therefore you don’t know my attitude.

            In both of your points you are just making up Alternative facts and assumptions. Come back to the discussion when you have some actual facts and a legit argument.

          3. ” Not sure about the specific details of this accident,”

            says the person speculating wildly about an accident, which is not helpful.

          4. You need to work on your reading comprehension because that quote just proved that I wasn’t speculating. But let me complete that quote for you…

            “Not sure about the specific details of this accident, but nonetheless we all share the responsibility to keep ourselves and others in our community safe.”

            The other elenchos was much smarter.

          5. Uh oh SurlyAF you’re quickly losing social justice woke points! Stop victim shaming and protecting evil car culture that is destroying the planet with vile carbon that must be TAXED.

          6. Per RCW 46.61.235, cars must always stop for pedestrians at intersections. It is the responsibility of the driver. This is even a marked crosswalk. I’ll give you this – we don’t know what was being worn – that doesn’t matter. Stepping out suddenly? In this intersection, that only matters if the light was on “don’t walk.” If it was set to walk, the pedestrian had every right.

  2. I wear a yellow reflective vest to walk in Ballard at night, because it helps drivers see me. Maybe they are distracted. Or elderly. Or it’s raining. But people aren’t perfect, so I am helping them out by being visible, at a low cost to me.

    1. Yes, and this is helpful. Everyone should wear one at all times when walking near a roadway. And when they forget it, or they’re home late from work and it’s at their house, or they’re a visitor to town not wearing one, it would be helpful to have more flashing-light intersections to catch the attention of drivers.

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