SEATTLE — Neighbors in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood say they're fed up with safety concerns at a major intersection after a car crash over Christmas weekend took out a metro bus shelter, lighting poles and an iconic palm tree.
It happened Saturday morning near Denny Way and Stewart Street.
According to Seattle police, several calls came in shortly after 4 a.m. to report a vehicle crashing into a bus stop but when police arrived, the driver wasn't found.
Soon after, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) tweeted a photo of the crash that shows a metallic vehicle on the curb of an island where the bus shelter and palm tree sit.
"Every part of this intersection is so dangerous - the crosswalk is really really short but so is this turn... I'm not surprised this happened at all," said Tyler Rogers, who lives in Capitol Hill and walks past the island every day.
Rogers says his biggest concerns are cars driving too fast along with poor signage that confuses drivers and creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians.
"The bus lane is great for the buses but really confusing for drives trying to get up the hill," he added.
While Saturday's crash didn't injure anyone, it took down a beloved palm tree that had stood next to the bus stop for years.
"I see it every day and it kind of cheers me up so seeing it gone its one more tree that we don't have anymore," said Jeff Shu, who also lives nearby.
Debris was left on the island surrounded by police tape until Wednesday afternoon, when the bus stop was closed for about three hours while SDOT crews worked to clear it.
SDOT did address some of the safety concerns over email, saying the intersection has been a priority since 2019. Safety enhancements include improved lighting, crossing treatments including new ramps, and updated signs and markings.
SDOT says the next phase of the project focuses on the bus stop island itself, adding a crossing signal among other improvements.
However, the timing of the second phase is planned around the construction of an apartment building across the street, which is currently delayed.