Evening traffic on Wheaton Way turned chaotic Wednesday after a car smashed into a storefront, triggering a serious-injury collision and a major emergency response in East Bremerton.
Fire, medical and police crews rushed to the scene, blocking the roadway while they treated victims and cleared shattered glass and other debris from the business entrance. The crash backed up cars along the busy corridor as responders worked at the site.
According to the Bremerton Police Department, officers responded to a serious-injury collision in which a vehicle drove into a storefront on Wheaton Way. The department urged people to stay away from the area and to keep the scene clear for first responders and investigators. As of the department’s post, police had not released information about the driver or the victims.
Investigation Underway
Police advised that responders and investigators would likely remain at the location for several hours as they processed the scene, according to the department’s statement. Detectives were observed documenting the damage and taking witness statements while crews removed glass and debris from the entrance.
Statewide Crash Context
Crashes in which vehicles hit storefronts, sidewalks or building fronts can lead to severe injuries, and state data show impairment and high speed are still major factors in Washington’s worst crashes. In its preliminary 2024 report, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission found that impairment was involved in roughly 48% of roadway fatalities and excessive speed played a role in about one-third of deaths, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
What Residents Should Know
Bremerton police are asking drivers and pedestrians to steer clear of the Wheaton Way corridor near the crash scene while investigators continue their work and to follow directions from on-scene responders.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has video of the incident is urged to contact Bremerton Police. The department’s non-emergency line is listed as 360-473-5220 on the city’s police pages, according to the City of Bremerton. No additional details were immediately available.
