We wanted to pass along this note sent to us:
Dear fellow Wallingford community members,
I was wondering if you could spread the word about an accident that occured in front of the Wallingford QFC on Friday, November 4th. That morning, I was hit by a car — making a right-turn from 45th St onto Wallingford Ave — while I crossed the crosswalk. The car did not stop after striking me, and continued to drive northbound on Wallingford. I hoped to send this email out earlier, but have been recooperating from a surgery repairing my left shoulder the past few weeks.
To give context to the situation: Around 7:30AM on 11/4/2011, I was at the SE corner of the 45th St & Wallingford Ave intersection. I saw my #44 bus coming westbound on 45th street. Because the blinking red hand had started, I jogged across the crosswalk to catch it. At this time, there was a line of vehicles in the left-hand turn lane and the go-straight lane on 45th street. This blocked me from seeing a car about to make a quick right turn from WB 45th St onto Wallingford Ave. I didn’t see a car was accelerating to do a right turn until I passed in front of the car in the go-straight lane. The car struck me, sending me flying about 8-12 feet onto the sidewalk. The driver of the car did not stop to see if I was OK.
Fortunately, the only injuries I sustained were a dislocated left shoulder, rotator cuff tear, and brusing on my right leg (where I was struck). While there were several witnesses to the crime, none were able to get a license plate number. We were only able to tell that it was a dark-colored Honda coupe/sedan — possibly an Accord or Civic. The case is still under investigation by the Seattle Traffic Collision Investigators (SPD Case# is 11-359054).
I checked with the Wallingford QFC to see if any of their cameras had caught the accident. Unfortunately, their cameras only capture activity directly in front of their store doors. And they told me that they are the only ones at the intersection with a security camera. I am wondering if you may be aware of any other security cameras in the area that would have captured information on the car.
Essentially, I am hoping that you all can help spread the word in case anybody has any information. Also, I think it would be important to remind drivers and pedestrians to really take extra care and consideration while driving and walking this time of year. The increased nighttime hours can make it harder for cars to see pedestrians crossing the street.
Thank you for your time,
Jennifer
Wallingford resident
Best of luck. People can be terrible.
Sounds like the accident was largely the fault of the pedestrian. The driver should have stopped, though. The blinking red hand means that if you have not already started crossing you are not allowed to cross. Running through a crosswalk in the dark when the light is about to change is particularly dangerous. Running for the bus resulted in the pedestrian failing to heed sufficient caution. Can't tell you how many times I've seen people risk their lives by running in front of traffic trying to catch a bus before it drives away. It's not worth it. Get started earlier or just wait for the next bus.
Read the scenario again. The pedestrian had the right of way. The car was making a right turn. The fact that the light was blinking doesn't negate the facts that driver was negligent and left the scene of the accident.
Let's see… a pedestrian running across the street to catch a bus, and a car making a legal turn, whose driver didn't see the running pedestrian. Sure, the driver theoretically should have stopped, but it's difficult to believe that the pedestrian doesn't have some responsibility for their own actions. So if the driver stops, the police ticket the driver for not yielding to the pedestrian and the “victim” sues the driver for injuries?
Even if the pedestrian was in the wrong, the law requires the driver to stop. The driver broke the law.
Hit-and-run is a felony. It does not matter if you were at fault or not, or whether you hit a person walking, biking or driving. You must stop.
This pedestrian was, by her own admission, jaywalking. Too bad she walked into a legally operated car, but it's clearly her own fault.
Every winter, it gets worse here in Seattle. The laws give pedestrians and bicycles the right of way and the bike lanes on arterials combine to give false hope that people in cars won't kill or seriously injure us just because the law is against the evil motor vehicle.
Just today, while in a turn lane by Northgate, some unhappy tool couldn't wait to get in front of my car just to prove he has the right of way. I saw his young frowning face and figured this poor soul wasn't even worth giving him the middle finger. Add the fashion statement of wearing dark clothes in our rainy December. My son knew better when he was 4 years old.
I hope you recover and the driver should have stopped. Heal up and learn from it. Car=4,000 lbs. Avg. female=145 lbs. Car wins even if the law says you are in the right. Keep your eyes open when crossing. They taught us this 40 years ago when I was a crossing gaurd at BF Day. Your life is precious. Be happy that it wasn't more serious. You won the Lotto.
Jaywalking or not, pedestrians always have the right of way; check with your local law enforcement agency. Just because a person is wrongly in the street doesn't mean you have a legal right to hit them. Yes, the pedestrian is also breaking the law, but if you hit them, you will still be charged for not yielding the right-of-way.
On a different note, I am really rather surprised at the folks here who are knocking this pedestrian for crossing on a flashing don't walk… You mean to tell me you have never done this yourself? Ever? Never crossed at mid-block? Ever? Never got caught after dark without reflective gear? Ever? Those be some pretty big logs… how you can see past them is beyond me.
The pedestrian in question here has admitted she should likely not have been crossing when she did. This isn't the issue. The issue is someone blatantly hit her and didn't stop. She is simply asking for anyone to help find the person who is responsible for a felony hit-and-run crime. Adding insult to injury only reveals you to be uncaring jerks. Get on with your bad selves; there is no use for you here.
Read the facts y'all. Blinking red hand is okay to walk through. SOLID red hand is not.
Given the facts, what started as an unfortunate accident ended as criminal behavior at the moment the car left the scene.
All of you who are leaving fault with the pedestrian are being block-headed and unreasonable (and callous to boot). You should be ashamed of yourselves.
This is exactly why I hate comment sections. It confirms that a majority of the public (Jwatt, Mike5, Labman, etc) are either dumb as rocks, or total jerks.
Absolutely, the car should have stopped. It's criminal to just drive away. My point is that as a pedestrian, one must always be vigilant and avoid putting oneself into harm's way. Being “in the right” does not make one any less injured after an encounter with a vehicle. She crossed foolishly and was injured as a result. It doesn't matter who was right or wrong. As a motorcyclist I deal with the same dangers every day. Having the right of way doesn't make me any less dead after I've collided with a car. Something tells me she will be much more careful in the future. It's unfortunate that it took such an injury to drive the point home. I hope she has a full recovery.
Jim, just because you say it's a fact does not make it so. The flashing red hand does not mean it's okay to cross any more than a yellow light means “stomp on the accelerator, you might still be able to make it.” The flashing red hand is a warning – if you have not already begun to cross you will not have time to do so before the light changes. Additionally, running in a crosswalk is inherently dangerous. You do the math.
By the way, name calling does not exactly make you look like the intelligent one in this exchange. I never said or implied that the pedestrian was a blockhead, but she does bear a large portion of blame for the accident by her actions. The driver, on the other hand, is now guilty of a hit and run – a far more serious offense, I think all would agree. And no, I'm not ashamed of myself just because you think I should be.
My sympathies to Jennifer. I hope you mend fully. I can’t believe some of the comments I’ve been reading. I live a few blocks from that intersection, and without walking over there to investigate, I believe the person who hit you was running a red light. Given the configuration of the intersection, I don’t think the free-right-turn rule would apply. I would certainly never think to do it. As a pedestrian and a driver, I know how difficult it can be for both drivers and pedestrians at that intersection (and many others). Usually, I am trying to turn right onto 45th from northbound Wallingford Avenue, and visibility isn’t always the best. I’ve received a few dirty looks from pedestrians after I’ve eased into the crosswalk before I even see pedestrians approaching it, but thank god I’ve never hit anyone—I try to be very careful. My personal feeling about this situation is that Jennifer had every right to dash across the street on a blinking red light and the driver who hit her was guilty of running a red light, in addition leaving the scene of accident. I find the lack of sympathy extended toward her shocking. I just read this account to my husband. He said he saw the ambulance that morning, but unfortunately not the accident. I hope the culprit is identified and prosecuted.
MyWallingford, please move to Facebook commenting. It helps people write more compassionate comments — or not write any at all.
Oh my goodness, what a horrible experience! Jennifer, I'm so sorry you went through that, it sounds absolutely terrifying. I'm also very sorry on behalf of my fellow Wallingfordians; I would have expected more empathy and thoughtfulness from them. Blaming the pedestrian victim of a hit-and-run strikes me as similar to blaming the victim of rape. I wish you the best of luck in tracking down the perpetrator; I wish I had seen it and could help. Perhaps you could write to the city and advocate for a traffic camera at that light.
It doesn't matter who was “right” at the time of the accident. What matters is that the *hole left the scene and the point of this whole section is to find him and bring him to justice… not for hitting her in the first place, but for committing FELONY hit and RUN. Can we FOCUS a little here people???
Again… the point here is not to debate whether she was right or wrong to cross. She has clearly stated she shouldn't have crossed when she did. We have a felon at large, folks. She has pretty much paid the price for her actions; let her be. Can we concentrate on getting the real criminal here? It's not like there is any argument here that it was okay for him to leave her injured in the street. Get useful… go find something that actually might HELP.
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