Updated: A Ford Bronco smashed into the front door of the bike shop on 56th St. and 24th Ave. just before 5:30 p.m. today.
Four other vehicles were involved in the accident, and amazingly only the driver of the Bronco was sent to the hospital with minor injuries. No one on the sidewalk or inside BikeSport was injured. “I was across the street and just south when this happened,” writes Dusty in comments. “Had I not waited at the intersection to cross, it would have timed up to where I was dodging the truck on the sidewalk. Gives ya the goosebumps!”
Another witness tells My Ballard on scene that she spoke with the driver immediately after the accident, and he told her that he had just lost control. (Thanks Rob and Silver for your help on the story!)
Car crashes into Ballard bike shop
I was across the street and just south when this happened. Looked up when I heard tires screeching and saw the guy hit a few cars and veer into the bike shop.
I paused at 24th and Market and debated which side of 24th to walk up. Had I not waited at the intersection to cross, it would have timed up to where I was dodging the truck on the sidewalk. Gives ya the goosebumps!
Wow! You should buy a bunch of lottery tickets today! Glad you're all right!
Does “lost control” translate to texting? Ten bucks says it does.
lost control probably translates to something silly or irresponsable…glad nobody was seriously hurt.
Was OJ or Al Cowlings driving???
if he wasn't texting or on his cell-phone, I'm guessing he was bombed out of his mind.
I'm thinkin that it probably does. I'm glad no one was hurt – that's amazing that no one was in the way when he ran up onto the sidewalk.
dammit OJ.
That pickup was someones baby. A lot of TLC went into that blue truck. Maybe its fixable.
What a lousy driver. Reminds us the guy that hit the Greenwood library for no reason.
It wasn't quite a primo vintage truck, maybe from 1970's, but it was still pretty nice looking. When I saw the truck, I couldn't help thinking how awful it will be for the driver to return and see that.
Crikey!
Last Saturday afternoon I was on that very spot on the sidewalk, changing my bike tire.
As well as me, there was a family doing some tire work too.
And there was a lot of pedestrian traffic.
I am so glad no one was there to get hit.
Cars! Bad drivers! ugh.
Today was very interesting to say the least. I was 5 seconds past right where he hit. I rushed back down the sidewalk and at that point car parts were still flying . He grazed 6 cars before crunching the glass door at Bike Sports. He was still in the bronco and very dazed. I talked to him and he was in shock and was most concerned that no one was hit. He only had a small cut on his forearm which was handled with a tissue. After being there for 1 hr. I spoke with the police and he told them he blacked out. No alcohol detected but he was taken to the hospital for shock and his black out.
I am so grateful that the gentleman that I past before the crash is ok and that no one in Bike Sports was hurt. I could have been crunched if I was 5 seconds slower. What a crazy day . Oh yea the folks in the Dodge Van are ok and she just put her seatbelt on when he grazed (lights off and crunches down the side) their van. Serendipity….
No alcohol detected? If it wasn't drugs then it sounds like a seizure which would be unfortunate for everyone involved including the driver.
Not enough cyclists get run over on the roads that the SUVs have to come into the shops to run them over?
That is usually a high pedestrian traffic area. It's very lucky no one was hit. I feel sorry for the store owner, though. And the other cars hit.
Hope the driver is okay. Not a good sign to black out without outside help.
Ha! Now they're hunting them down in the stores before people even buy them!
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Poor guy – he may never be able to drive again for fear of having another blackout behind the wheel. ;-(
More likely he was drunk. I've seen a few afternoon drinkers on the road in ballard.
Mmmm… me Bronco… me eat BIKES.
Actually I know the guy & he had severe dehydration, had been working outside on a roof all day, got light-headed & lost control. With the weather lately I am surprised I am not hearing about more of this type of thing.