Seattle police are canvassing the Beach Drive waterfront after a hit-and-run crash where a pickup slammed into at least one parked car, then was abandoned near Shore Place. The search, based on police radio traffic and community tips, is focused on the nearby Me-Kwa-Mooks greenbelt.
Officers described the suspected driver as a Hispanic man around 30 years old, about 5-foot-8, wearing a multicolored sweatshirt. Police said he may have bolted uphill into the wooded park. No injuries were reported.
What officers say
The initial report, which included a reader photo, was posted by West Seattle Blog. That outlet reported that the pickup was left near Shore Place and that the suspect description went out over police radio, triggering an active search of nearby streets and greenbelt trails.
A risky stretch of road
The Beach Drive corridor around Me-Kwa-Mooks has seen multiple collisions and traffic incidents in recent years, sometimes closing the road or taking down utility poles, according to local reporting. Westside Seattle and other outlets have documented similar crashes along this same waterside stretch, which neighbors say can feel tight and fast-moving.
Me-Kwa-Mooks itself is a wooded natural area with trails and steep slopes that rise directly above Beach Drive. The park features dense hillside vegetation and a crisscrossing trail network, according to Seattle Parks.
How to help
West Seattle Blog reports that neighbors have been asked to call 911 if they spot the driver or have any information about the abandoned truck. Anyone with tips is urged to contact emergency services so officers can follow up.
