A deadly collision involving a Seattle Fire Department ladder truck and a sedan early Saturday morning brought traffic to a halt on one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares and left a 35-year-old driver dead.
The crash occurred around 5 a.m. on August 2 at the intersection of North 128th Street and Aurora Avenue North, a stretch of State Route 99 that cuts through North Seattle. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a Chevrolet Malibu heavily damaged, its driver pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary reports from the Seattle Police Department indicate the ladder truck had been making a right-hand turn onto Aurora Avenue when the Malibu—traveling southbound at a high rate of speed—collided with the fire vehicle. No injuries were reported among the Seattle Fire Department personnel on board.
The incident triggered an extended closure of all southbound lanes on SR-99 in the area, with the highway remaining shut down until just before noon as investigators processed the scene and cleared debris. Commuters were redirected for several hours, causing significant delays in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Police have not yet released the name of the deceased driver, pending notification of family. As is protocol in serious collisions involving city vehicles, both SPD traffic investigators and internal SFD reviewers are examining the incident.
While the fire truck was not responding to an emergency at the time of the crash, the presence of emergency apparatus on city roadways continues to highlight the need for vigilance—especially during off-peak hours when high-speed driving can lead to tragic outcomes.
Authorities have not yet said whether drugs, alcohol, or impairment are suspected, and no arrests have been made as of Saturday afternoon. The investigation remains active, with additional updates expected in the coming days.
