Two teens die when SUV dives into Elliott Bay; four hurt

An SUV carrying six teenagers returning from a party soared over a 15-foot seawall and plunged into Elliott Bay at high tide off Alki early Sunday, killing two and injuring four.

The Ford Explorer was traveling east about 5 a.m. when it crossed into the oncoming lane in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue Southwest and "flew well into the water," said Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb.

Two occupants died instantly, he said. A nearby resident and police and fire rescuers helped survivors to shore under searchlights.

Police believe excessive speed was a factor, said Whitcomb. Alcohol may also have been involved, according to investigators at the scene, he said.

Names of the victims and survivors, all described as males in their late teens, are expected to be released today. Whitcomb said initial reports suggest the driver survived.

Mike Brady, 27, an electrician who lives across the street from where the car hit the water, said he was awakened by the sound of a vehicle "spinning out of control."

"I was anticipating that a car was going to hit another vehicle or something," Brady said. "I didn't hear that so I looked outside."

When he realized what had happened, he rushed outside. Two people had already swum ashore, he said, and a third person was crouching on top of the submerged vehicle about 20 yards out in the water.

Then he spotted someone floating in a white sweater "like an upside-down fish." He swam out, turned him over and brought him to shore.

"He was alive, breathing," Brady said.

By that time, police and fire units were arriving, he said.

The four survivors were taken to Harborview Medical Center, where three remained late Sunday night, two in serious condition and one stable, a nursing supervisor said.

A friend of two of the survivors, who visited the crash scene Sunday afternoon, said the two were Foster High School graduates and members of a Tukwila-based heavy-metal band.

All six occupants, according to another friend, had attended a party earlier.

A swath of the popular waterfront avenue was shut down for about seven hours while police investigated.

Candace Sullivan, who lives in a beachfront condominium, said she heard the sound of skidding and the driver trying to brake.

"It made me sad," Sullivan said. "Kids do dumb things, but they don't deserve that."

Besides police, some 19 fire, medic and marine units responded.

A nearby resident, Bob Bruck, said drivers regularly speed along Alki , despite the 30 mph speed limit.

"There are no stop signs or stop lights for maybe four miles, so there's nothing to slow a car down," he said.

The stretch leading up to the accident site is long and straight, a magnet for speeders, neighbors say. After a slight curve, the road straightens then curves more sharply.

It's there that the Ford Explorer struck a wide curb that's part of a crosswalk so hard that chunks of concrete were gouged out. The car then sheared off a crosswalk sign at its base, veered left between two light poles and flew over the seawall.

Whitcomb said Seattle Police are aware Alki Avenue is the scene of "speeding, racing and partying" that has drawn numerous complaints.

"Our officers spend a good deal of time patrolling Alki," he said. But there are limits to their effectiveness, he said, and "there's not a lot one can do when people choose to drive impaired and speed."

In April, a 21-year-old skateboarder was killed nearby by a motorcyclist who lost control of his vehicle. The motorcyclist also died.

Elizabeth Rhodes: 206-464-2306; erhodes@seattletimes.com