SDOT assesses intersection following pedestrian death in Ballard

Meghan Walker Ballard

The Seattle Department of Transportation is looking into the safety of the intersection of NW 46th St and 14th Ave NW following the death of a pedestrian last week. 65-year-old Cara E. Masciana was out walking her dogs when she was struck by a BMW in a crosswalk late in the evening on August 27. The driver was a 34-year-old woman who failed to stop at the stop sign; police arrested her for a DUI.

SDOT provided the following statement:

This was a tragic incident and we take it very seriously. A couple of years ago we noticed several ‘T-bone’ crashes happening at the intersection. So, we installed an all-way stop. When people obey the signs, the intersection operates well, and we stopped the crashes. We’ll review the police report from [the August 27th] incident and perform an assessment of the intersection. Currently no changes have been identified.

Earnest Hilsenberg lives near the intersection, and told KIRO that he often sees people flying through the intersection after failing to see the stop sign. “They put those little orange flags on them, but it probably needs to be a flashing stop sign,” Hilsenberg told KIRO.

SDOT says it takes them roughly three weeks to do an assessment; we’ll update when we learn of their findings.

 

52 thoughts to “SDOT assesses intersection following pedestrian death in Ballard”

    1. Incorrect. Legally, literally every intersection in Washington State has a “crosswalk”. Some are “marked crosswalks”, but whether a crosswalk is physically painted on the street or not, legally it’s there.

      Here’s the RCW with the definition of “crosswalk”. Numerous other RCWs reference “marked” and “unmarked” crosswalks. Note the definition of “Marked crosswalk” in the link below.
      http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=47.04.010

    2. Yes, the only-in-seattle unmarked crosswalk. Apparently you can cross, say, 15th ave with 5 lanes of traffic at any street corner, with or without a light, and everyone has to stop for you.

      Makes sense on side streets but on main arterials? Stupidest law in Seattle. And unique to Seattle. And no, the cops won’t give you a ticket if you don’t stop because talk to any cops and they’ll tell you it’s a stupid law. But Seattleites love a certain level of stupid in their lives where politics beat common sense, and some folks think playing Frogger on arterials is a smart way to make a statement about the ‘evil’ of cars. They won’t be happy until speed limits are 15mph.

      The problem in this case was none of the above of course, it was drunk driving. A criminal offense combined with negligent homicide. The driver is off to the Big House.

        1. Statewide stupid. Of course folks east of the Cascades are decent drivers and know better. They also know what the fast lane of a highway is for.

          1. Personally, when I’m walking alone (and not with my kid) I will step into 24th Ave at an intersection without a marked crosswalk, if the cars coming from both directions are far enough away to stop comfortably and safely before they get to me. So, yeah, I make frequent use of the “stupid” law, navigating my city on foot without undue reverence for people navigating it in cars.

            Proper infrastructure — like the new light at 53rd and 15th — helps make sure that people can get around on foot without having to be bold and aggressive about it. As Ballard crowds up, I’m all for more infrastructure to help us all get around.

          2. “if the cars coming from both directions are far enough away to stop comfortably and safely before they get to me. ”

            So you cross the street when it’s safe. Wow, genius.

          3. Er… you were just complaining about the fact that I have the right to do exactly that.

          4. Nope. What I won’t do is stop for pedestrians waiting to cross on arterials. If you’re in the street already, yep, I won’t hit you. Genius.

            Mind you, I teach my kids to only cross when it’s safe and if they’re on a 4 lane arterial and some moron driver stops and waves them across (ditto for the morons who do this for cyclists on the street), they should ignore the driver and wait until they can cross the street with no cars.

          5. Excellent! It’s nice to see that, even from someone who thinks that pedestrian right-of-way is “stupid”, we still have basic agreement that pedestrians should have that right-of-way, if they choose to assert it.

            I also teach my kid to fear bad drivers and act appropriately to protect herself from them. I’m hopeful that, as she grows up, better infrastructure will gradually make Ballard a safer place for her.

          6. Right of way isn’t the issue, it’s damage to my car.

            I won’t stop for pedestrians waiting to cross on arterials and I’ll teach my kids to only cross when it’s clear or go to a light and cross there. If a driver stops for them on a 4 lane arterial and waves them across, ignore them and wait. They’re idiot drivers.

            “we still have basic agreement that pedestrians should have that right-of-way, if they choose to assert it.”

            Go ahead, assert it. Just pray you judge the speed of the car, its weight and its braking distance correctly. Also pray drivers in the other lanes can see you. Frogger is not a game.

          7. Way to show complete disregard for the law Buxom Lady!

            “I think the law is dumb, so I don’t follow it.”

            I’m sure that that 34 year old woman arrested for DUI thought that it wasn’t any big deal that she was breaking the law until she killed someone.

            Please don’t let me hear you complain about jaywalking, bicyclists running reds, or homeless camps.

          10. You can be right and also ask that the police go out and earn the money we pay them and enforce the law.

            (I know the Trumpers/nimbers want he law enforced on “junkies”, but that’s a f-ing waste of time. Moving them around doesn’t make them disappear, much as some would wish otherwise. Ticketing average drivers who don’t follow the law is not a waste of time. It changes the way they drive. Most average people think getting a ticket is a big deal. They pay attention.)

            Ticket everyone who doesn’t know unmarked crosswalks are crosswalks. Ticket them once, and they will clean up their act. Hardly anybody will need to be ticketed twice. And all the money we throw at the SPD will finally amount to something that makes a difference. Hallelujah!

          11. “Ticket everyone who doesn’t know unmarked crosswalks are crosswalks. ” Only a total moron would think that we can post a policeman at every intersection. Plenty of them in Ballard it seems.

          12. Statewide stupid. Of course folks east of the Cascades are decent drivers and know better.

            Look, I know you’re either a Harley Lever sockpuppet or a Russian troll (or both!), but there are moron drivers East of the Cascades and there are decent drivers East of the Cascades, who will stop for pedestrians at intersections, just like West of the Cascades.

            Now for your penance, you have to go reread your comments in this thread until your brain explodes form the sheer stupidity.

  2. With all the new traffic and businesses going in right down there, they’re going to have to do something about this intersection, and the one on 46th and Leary. There’s an auto accident seemingly every week right by Giddyup and the Subway.

  3. I have felt for year this intersection should have a light. It has always had issues, I personal have seen to accidents at this intersection. but what is to be expected with all the growth in Ballard and few east west roads that connect. Leary always backed up with people getting on to 15th and the night mare of the bus stops on the ramps.

  4. I, too, was hit by a car at this same intersection, crossing 14th and an suv turning left from 46th didn’t see me and clipped my left lower leg at the same moment that I took a step out of full impact zone. I stumbled, caught myself and was so stunned that I was unable to speak when he stopped, rolled down the window and asked if I was alright, pot smoke billowing forth. Honestly, I was ok, bruised, small cut, still unable to process or speak, but ok, so I walked on. Until a block later when the adrenaline caught up with me.
    I wasn’t thinking it was the fault of the intersection so much as the stoned driver, a dark evening and lack of adequate lighting on my person. The next day I bought all kinds of reflectors and lights and wear them all winter. Now, I also walk as though all drivers are blind idiots who don’t know that pedestrians have the right of way at unmarked intersections. I know that there is a lot that I, too, miss when I am the driver.
    This incident and the death of Ms Misciana is sobering and sorrowful.

  5. Today I saw a man in the “unnecessary” pedestrian crossing light on 15th by Mud Bay crossing with all the cars on 15th stopped and waiting for him. He was clean, wearing, you know, khakis and a Sears shirt. Normcore. Carrying a shopping bag with his purchases from upscale Mud Bay itself. Perhaps he was heading over to Starbucks for a mocha or pumpkin spice. I don’t know if they sell those in September. They ought to. Maybe he wanted a donut at Top Pot. Maybe he only wanted to do a walking tour or Old Ballard.

    Amway. He wasn’t some creep. He was a guy with a fat wallet buying shit in a hot retail corridor. Suck it, drivers. Suck it. This is America.

    2. I’m not sure what your comment has to do with this thread? That article was a couple weeks ago. The crosswalks are installed, not sure what battle you’re trying to fight since it’s already been won. What has you so angry? Telling drivers to suck it leads me to believe you yourself only take public transportation?

    3. A little disappointed that you didn’t know that Starbucks is selling pumpkin spice lattes already. And here I thought you were plugged in to the neighborhood.

      1. Oh dear, I’ve been napping again, haven’t I? Look how silly this blog comment section has become in my absence! Let’s see if I’ve still got it:

        This blog post is about SDOT assessing the safety of the intersection of NW 46th St and 14th Ave NW.
        This comment is about a new pedestrian crossing at NW 53rd St and 15th Ave NW.

        🐘Therefore: irrelevant.🐘

  6. I have a brilliant idea: let’s move in a gazillion more people, do little to the existing infrastructure, and then all attempt to crawl over each other. Absolutely brilliant! No forward (read progressive) thinking here, rather reactionary responses, that are all too late. Too bad SDOT has no clue. Too bad expert are busy here with other issues to pay scant attention to traffic/flow. But then again, this chaos along with their permanent underclass, give area bloviating politicians/officials other more special things to do with our tax $$. More blood has to flow before actions are taken. Tail meet dog.

    1. Are you still here Scott? You really must have a secret crush on us liberals and progressives!

      Otherwise you would have sold your house, taken the wads of profit, moved to whatever conservative paradise you truly believe is out there, and lived like a king!

      We’re flattered that you’re sticking around for us. Love you too Scotty!

      1. Hey Truth since when did “liberals” believe in “turf”? You guys bend over for junkies, race hustlers, gangbangers, and the Bezos-type oligarchs. PROGRESSIVE!

          1. Don’t forget fascist. They are also that and always make the trains run on time.

          3. Because they are not fascists. They are just living under the Mao Dynasty like they have under every dynasty before this one.

    1. Not to the woke suburbanites on this blog who moved to Seattle, suddenly discovered city life (aka mid sized town life) and want to fu*k it up.

  9. We need traffic cameras too so also catch JAY walkers too and bikes that go threw stop lights and signals and licence plates on bicycles too ! We also need traffic cameras on 15 the and other streets to catch speeders along 15th these people drive 40 ,50 mph in a 30 ! If you drive 35 or 40 people along 15th they tailgate you and or speed past you flying down our streets ! Why are these people allowed to drive 10 to 20 miles over the speed limit all the time and not get tickets ? Cameras could slow down speeders too ! And don’t forget licence plates on bicycles to ID them too !

  10. wow some pretty simple nded responses there.
    how about we teach seattle people to drive and to actually obey the rules of the road and to stop being so narcasistic in their actions.
    yes ,the pedestrian rules are dumb but it is way more than .

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