Elliott Avenue was closed down for approximately seven hours today as detectives investigated an eight-vehicle fatality crash.
It all started at approximately 6:23 a.m. Based on preliminary investigation, Seattle Police Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives believe the adult male driver of a 2006 Jeep SUV was traveling north in the 1400 block of Elliott Avenue West W. A 1998 Cadillac Deville was stopped facing southbound in the center turn lane at the same location waiting to make a left turn into a business parking lot. For reasons yet to be determined, the Jeep driver crossed the center turn lane, traveled north in the southbound lanes, side-swiped the Cadillac and then struck a southbound 1998 Subaru Outback. The Jeep driver continued north in the southbound lanes and collided with and/or caused five additional vehicles to collide.
The driver and sole occupant of the Subaru Outback, a 56-year-old female, died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the collision.
Four additional drivers (who were the sole occupants of their respective vehicles) were transported to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) with non-life-threatening injuries.
One of those four drivers was the driver of the Jeep SUV. While at HMC officers evaluated him for signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. No impairment was detected. He was interviewed and released pending further investigation.
There were no citations issued at the scene, which is standard procedure in serious traffic collisions requiring extensive follow up investigation and collision reconstruction.