Pedestrian fatally injured in Monday evening collision on Aurora

Meghan Walker Ballard

Detectives are investigating after a woman was struck and killed by a tow truck driver on Monday night in the 9800 block of Aurora Ave N.

This is at least the fourth fatal pedestrian accident this year — two people died in one week at Aurora and 85th in August.

According to Seattle Police, witnesses reported that a vehicle traveling southbound had stopped to allow the woman to cross, but the 28-year-old tow truck driver passed the stopped vehicle, striking the 50-year-old woman.

There is a pedestrian crossing at 98th and Aurora, however there are no street markings or signals.

Seattle Fire Department Medics attempted first aid when they arrived, but she was declared dead at the scene. Police say the man showed no signs of impairment — traffic collision detectives have taken over the investigation.

15 thoughts to “Pedestrian fatally injured in Monday evening collision on Aurora”

  1. It would be nice if people looked for cars while crossing the road instead of staring at their phones playing game , listening to music or whatever ! People seem to cross the road without even looking for traffic first !

    2. There is an unusual concentration of addled people wandering around that area. Does anyone check the blood levels for intoxicants as part of the post mortem processing?

      1. What, and make the mayor and city council look bad? Why would we want ANY personal accountability? WTF would we have to talk or complain about if we didn’t have a permanent underclass and chaos? All created and mostly not necessary at all.

        1. You only want accountability for the people outside of cars. If you are in a car you can hit pedestrians or if you are in a police car you can shoot anyone you want.

          1. I want accountability for all.
            I am confident that the driver’s blood will be drawn. Your “only” is misplaced.

          2. You’re not very bright. It doesn’t surprise me that you’re a UFCW21 delegate (self proclaimed) . You guys believe and regurgitate some of the most unbelievable things with zero proof.

  3. Last year I stopped for pedestrians trying to cross Holman. I was in the outer lane. A police car in the inner lane did exactly what this tow truck driver did. (No, the officer wasn’t on a call – they turned into Dick’s.) If the pedestrians had crossed, the cop could have hit them.

    Listen, if you see a car stopped for no reason, SLOW DOWN. There’s a reason, just you haven’t seen it yet.

  4. Stopping for pedestrians trying to cross a multi-lane highway or street (regardless of crosswalk or not) is just setting them up for being hit and killed by other drivers who do not see them crossing. Especially at night! You are not being thoughtful by stopping for them, but instead setting them up for a potential fatal accident, by allowing them to enter a busy traffic environment unprotected! Cross with TRAFFIC LIGHTS ONLY…..so much safer!!

    1. “You are not being thoughtful by stopping for them, but instead setting them up for a potential fatal accident, by allowing them to enter a busy traffic environment unprotected!”

      Better to just run them over?

    2. The same logic applies to driving the speed limit, you are just setting yourself up to be rear ended. Why not just drive at 60 MPH wherever you want? Also pedestrians are often hit at traffic lights when crossing with the light. It is not a question of being thoughtful. It is the law:
      RCW 46.61.235

      Crosswalks.

      (1) The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section “half of the roadway” means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway.
      (2) No pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk, run, or otherwise move into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop.
      (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply under the conditions stated in RCW 46.61.240(2).
      (4) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian, bicycle, or personal delivery device to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.

      Emphasis on following the law section 4. I hope the 28 year old tow truck driver is punished but nothing can restore what he did.

      1. This is a common accident pattern. The problem Stephen is talking about is not failing to stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk. It is stopping on a multilane street for someone who is *waiting* to cross. It makes them think it’s safe to cross, and they get hit by a driver in the other lane who probably never saw them–due to the vehicle that stopped! Section 4 is worse than useless when you can’t *see* the pedestrian.

        Same thing applies to vehicles. Some kind soul stopped short to let an oncoming vehicle make a left turn. He turned, never saw me coming down the other lane, nor could I see him. At least in that case nobody was killed.

        Driving, riding, or walking, *never* cross a lane of traffic unless you can SEE that nothing is coming that is close enough to hit you.

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