A Seattle car accident involving a passenger vehicle left one of the exterior walls of the Seattle Public Library Ballard branch damaged, the Seattle Fire Department told news outlets. The accident happened last Monday shortly before 2 p.m., the Seattle Times reported.
Moments before the accident, the news outlet reported, the driver experienced a medical emergency. According to the Seattle Police Department (SDP), the vehicle crashed into the wall of the Ballard public library on 22nd Avenue Northwest. Officials reported no injuries.
After firefighters extricated all occupants from the vehicle, the vehicle was promptly removed from the scene.
Vehicles Crashing Into Buildings: A Common Sight In Seattle?
A Seattle Times report from February, 2023, demonstrated that while a vehicle crashed into a Seattle building or home on average every 3 and a half days last year, news outlets failed to keep track of all the incidents.
The more than 100 accidents involving vehicles and buildings in Seattle might represent only a fraction of the city’s traffic accidents, the news outlet explained. However, many end in injury, some even deadly. In addition, Seattle accidents involving building structures also result in considerable damage, which ends up costing building owners tens of thousands of dollars.
Since 2012, vehicles have struck buildings in Seattle 700 times. Considering this number isn’t an official count, as many crashes don’t elicit a fire department response, many news outlets fail to report on these occurrences. As a result, Seattle residents are not alerted of these accidents.
Lowering Accident Rates In Seattle: Everybody’s Job
The Seattle Times report quoted Seattle’s new director of transportation, Gregg Spotts, promising a “top to bottom” review of how the city’s traffic policies can help prevent injury accidents. While it is essential that officials work tirelessly to make roads safer in order to help make accidents less likely, Seattle roads can improve considerably if all drivers do their part.
Avoid distracted driving, getting behind the wheel while distracted, and speeding. Follow traffic rules and stay focused on the road.
For more on the accident involving the Ballard public library structure, follow this link.
