Seattle police arrested a 17-year-old boy following a hit-and-run collision on the West Seattle Bridge Saturday night.
At approximately 11 p.m. October 11, a patrol officer observed a car traveling at high speed without headlights, heading westbound on the bridge. The vehicle then collided with another car, also traveling westbound.
The people inside the victim vehicle, a man and woman both 45 years old, were minorly injured and received medical aid from the Seattle Fire Department.
The suspect fled the scene in his car, later crashing into a barrier at the Delridge Way Southwest off-ramp, disabling the vehicle. The occupants fled on foot but returned to the scene, where police arrested the 17-year-old driver for hit-and-run and reckless driving.
Two passengers had minor injuries and were treated by SFD before being taken to the hospital.
The teen driver received a citation for failure to provide insurance and having mismatched license plate and car registration. He was released to a family member at the Southwest Precinct. The damaged vehicle was impounded by police.
The incident began with multiple traffic violations, speeding and driving without headlights, that an officer observed before the collision occurred. The driver’s decision to flee after the initial crash, only to crash again at the off-ramp, demonstrates the dangers of hit-and-run attempts that often result in additional accidents and injuries.
The West Seattle Bridge serves as a critical connection between West Seattle and the rest of the city, carrying significant traffic volumes where high-speed driving poses substantial risks to other motorists.
The teen’s release to a family member rather than detention reflects typical handling of juvenile traffic offenses, though the hit-and-run and reckless driving charges could result in serious consequences including license suspension and potential criminal penalties.
