A teenage boy died and three others were critically injured Saturday night when their vehicle plunged 80 feet off a State Route 99 overpass in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood.
Seattle Police responded to the single-vehicle crash at East Marginal Way South and South Spokane Street at 10:09 p.m., finding an overturned car with a 16-year-old female driver trapped inside.
One teenage male occupant had been ejected from the vehicle and was in critical condition. Two other male teens escaped the wreckage on their own but sustained serious injuries.
The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad determined the vehicle exited southbound SR-99 at the Harbor Island interchange, struck a ramp barrier, and fell approximately 80 feet before landing upside down on the roadway below.
Seattle Fire Department medics extricated the trapped driver. All four teens were transported to Harborview Medical Center, where the ejected teen later died despite lifesaving efforts. The remaining three victims remain hospitalized in serious or critical condition.
Investigators are examining whether speed, impairment, or weather conditions played a role in the crash. The 80-foot fall from the elevated SR-99 structure represents an extreme drop distance that typically results in catastrophic outcomes regardless of vehicle safety features.
The ejected occupant’s death underscores the critical importance of seatbelt use, as ejection from vehicles during crashes dramatically increases fatality risk. Washington law requires all vehicle occupants to wear seatbelts.
The 16-year-old driver’s age raises questions about compliance with Washington’s graduated driver licensing restrictions, which limit nighttime driving for intermediate license holders. The 10:09 p.m. crash occurred during restricted hours for drivers under 18 with intermediate licenses, who cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. without supervision, though exceptions exist for work or school activities.
The Harbor Island SR-99 interchange features challenging geometry with sharp curves and significant elevation changes, creating hazards particularly for inexperienced drivers unfamiliar with the route’s demands.
Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad at 206-684-8923.
A teenage boy died and three others were critically injured Saturday night when their vehicle plunged 80 feet off a State Route 99 overpass in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood.
Seattle Police responded to the single-vehicle crash at East Marginal Way South and South Spokane Street at 10:09 p.m., finding an overturned car with a 16-year-old female driver trapped inside.
One teenage male occupant had been ejected from the vehicle and was in critical condition. Two other male teens escaped the wreckage on their own but sustained serious injuries.
The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad determined the vehicle exited southbound SR-99 at the Harbor Island interchange, struck a ramp barrier, and fell approximately 80 feet before landing upside down on the roadway below.
Seattle Fire Department medics extricated the trapped driver. All four teens were transported to Harborview Medical Center, where the ejected teen later died despite lifesaving efforts. The remaining three victims remain hospitalized in serious or critical condition.
Investigators are examining whether speed, impairment, or weather conditions played a role in the crash. The 80-foot fall from the elevated SR-99 structure represents an extreme drop distance that typically results in catastrophic outcomes regardless of vehicle safety features.
The ejected occupant’s death underscores the critical importance of seatbelt use, as ejection from vehicles during crashes dramatically increases fatality risk. Washington law requires all vehicle occupants to wear seatbelts.
The 16-year-old driver’s age raises questions about compliance with Washington’s graduated driver licensing restrictions, which limit nighttime driving for intermediate license holders. The 10:09 p.m. crash occurred during restricted hours for drivers under 18 with intermediate licenses, who cannot drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. without supervision, though exceptions exist for work or school activities.
The Harbor Island SR-99 interchange features challenging geometry with sharp curves and significant elevation changes, creating hazards particularly for inexperienced drivers unfamiliar with the route’s demands.
Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad at 206-684-8923.
