Police release dashcam from West Seattle crash that killed 2
Apr 7, 2016, 5:01 PM | Updated: 5:08 pm
(File, Associated Press)
(File, Associated Press)
The Seattle Police Department continues to investigate an armed carjacking, pursuit and fatal collision that killed two people Thursday morning in West Seattle.
The SPD released the officers’ radio dispatches and dashcam video from the minutes preceding the crash.
At 10:52 p.m. Wednesday, police say they received a 911 report that three men had stolen a 2002 Honda Accord at gunpoint near 15th Avenue South and South State Street.
Three hours later, at 2:07 a.m., the SPD says an officer noticed the stolen Accord at 21st Avenue SW and SW Webster Street and followed it as she requested backup patrol units, a K9 team and the King County Guardian One helicopter, which was unavailable at the time.
The 16-year-old male driver of the stolen vehicle led pursuing officers through West Seattle to Highland Park Drive SW, where it appears he crossed over the center line and struck a westbound 1996 Acura Integra. Police say the 21-year-old driver and a dog inside the Acura, along with the 16-year-old suspect, all died from injuries sustained in the crash.
“The collision that took the lives of two people this morning is devastating to the families of the deceased and the officers involved,” said SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole. “My thoughts and prayers are with them all. SPD is conducting a thorough investigation around the circumstances that led to this event.”
Police found a handgun in the Honda, but do not yet know what role the 16-year-old played in Thursday morning’s carjacking, the SPD says.
The pursuit and fatal crash will be reviewed by the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad and Southwest Precinct commanders.
