A 20-year-old man slammed his car into a telephone pole and then struck the side of a building on North 105th Street in North Seattle just before 4 a.m. Monday, knocking down power lines and prompting a brief closure of Greenwood Avenue North in both directions. He was hurt in the crash and got out of the vehicle on his own; he was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment and listed in stable condition before ultimately being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
According to MyNorthwest.com, the Seattle Fire Department said the driver injured his leg in the crash but was able to get out of the car on his own. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center and listed in stable condition, the outlet reported, before the Seattle Police Department arrested him on suspicion of DUI. The crash also knocked out power lines along the corridor, and SDOT Traffic reported that the collision at North 105th Street and Greenwood Avenue North blocked all eastbound and westbound lanes.
Separate reporting from KOMO News places the crash near Greenwood Avenue North and North 105th Street, describing a vehicle that struck a power pole before hitting the side of a building. The station reported that the downed pole caused a temporary street closure and that the driver got out of the vehicle on their own before being taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment and then arrested on suspicion of DUI. KIRO 7 News Seattle similarly reported that a driver was hurt and arrested for DUI after crashing into a telephone pole in North Seattle early Monday, citing police.
Street Reopens After Crews Clear Scene
The Seattle Police Department temporarily shut down Greenwood Avenue North in both directions while crews worked the scene, the station's report indicates. SDOT Traffic's update noted the collision had blocked all lanes of travel at the intersection. A photo from the scene was credited to SDOT.
How This Fits Into Regional DUI Patterns
Crashes that take down utility poles are not unique to this stretch of Greenwood Avenue North. In Bothell, a two-vehicle collision on Bothell Way Northeast downed power lines and closed the road while crews made repairs, according to KING 5. In Auburn, a woman crashed into a utility pole and her vehicle caught fire, temporarily affecting roadway access, per FOX 13 Seattle.
A King County Road Services Division 2024 Collision Data Report covers collisions on county-maintained roads in unincorporated King County for which a state police collision report was filed. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission separately compiles statewide statistics on impaired-driving deaths, while Seattle's own Crash Analysis tool maintains an inventory of collision records from the Seattle Police Department.
What Washington Law Says About DUI
Under RCW 46.61.502, Washington law states that a person is guilty of driving under the influence if they operate a vehicle in the state under circumstances defined by the statute.
