Accident This Morning Near Children's Hospital

Neighbors reported to the Laurelhurst Blog, an early morning accident called in to 911 at 7:32am at the intersection of NE 45th and 42nd Avenue NE. The road was blocked for a few hours.

It was reported that a silver Audi was going 45-50mph westbound on NE 45th and hit a Subaru at the intersection. The driver of the Subaru was reportedly transported to the Hospital.

Neighbors said:

It was a horrible, loud accident that could have been prevented by following the speed limit and not being distracted. 

The Subaru was all mangled up and it looked as if it was quite challenging to extricate the drive. We hope this is a warning to those that use NE 45th Street and often go very fast. 

In September of last year, two speed radar signs were permanently installed on NE 45th Street, in both directions, towards the bottom of the hill.

A new pedestrian crossing, at NE 45th Street and 40th Avenue NE, was also been installed.

Children's Hospital initiated the request, to Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), to improve traffic safety after a pedestrian was struck at the above intersection in March 2016.

The criteria for installation of speed cushions on 45th Street was met for both travel directions requiring that "85th-percentile speed of the roadway would need to be greater than 5 mph above the posted speed limit of 30mph."

Todd Johnson, Children's Hospital Vice President, Facilities and Supply Chain, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff at the time:

There have been ongoing safety concerns related to the area around NE 45th Street and 40^th Avenue NE.  People tell us, and we’ve witnessed drivers exceeding the speed limit as they travel down the hill toward Sand Point Way.  At least one injury accident occurred there in 2015 or 2016 when a vehicle struck pedestrian.  We reached out to Seattle Department of Transportation for help making the area safer.   

SDOT selected the methods to calm traffic – a speed monitor and a new crosswalk – and SDOT directed their implementation.   

This work was not part of the Livable Streets Initiative,  mitigation plan and collaborative study completed in 2009-2010 involving Children's Hospital, Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) and other NE Seattle neighborhoods, nor was it required of the hospital.  It is in our interest to keep pedestrians safe around our campus, whether those people are patients or families, Children’s staff, or neighbors.