A tragic accident unfolded in Seattle's Yesler Terrace neighborhood yesterday when a transport bus backed into a group of people, resulting in two fatalities. The Seattle Police Department is actively investigating the incident, which took place near Broadway and Alder Street around 10:30 a.m., as reported by the SPD Blotter. Upon arrival at the scene, the Seattle Fire Department declared the victims deceased.
According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), a man was behind the wheel of the bus that inadvertently backed up into a designated smoking area within a private parking lot. This action ultimately led to fatally striking two elderly women. A third woman managed to narrowly escape unscathed. Following the collision, the area was quickly cordoned off by police, allowing detectives with the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad to properly process the scene.
After the accident, the driver remained at the location and cooperated fully with law enforcement. A subsequent evaluation by a Drug Recognition Expert found no evidence of impairment. The driver has since been released from custody pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. It is unclear at this time what may have led the driver to mistakenly reverse into the area where the women were gathered.
The Seattle Police Department signifies, through their preliminary findings, that the collision was an unfortunate mishap. Nevertheless, detectives continue to fiercely gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review footage from nearby surveillance cameras as they work to piece together the events leading up to the tragic accident. They seek to understand fully what transpired in those critical moments in the parking lot of Yesler Terrace.
While details surrounding the accident remain under investigation, the community has been left to grapple with the loss of life that occurred on an ordinary morning turned tragic. This incident serves as a somber reminder of how quickly circumstances can shift and lives can be altered or ended. The SPD has vowed to keep the public updated as their investigation progresses.
