On Wednesday morning, a man in crisis slammed a car into a building in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, resulting in a large fire.
As per the initial information, the single-vehicle crash was reported at approximately 6:40 a.m. near the 700 block of South Michigan Street. Several callers informed 911 about a car that had crashed into a building, causing a fire to the car and building. Mark Cayetano, a witness at the scene informed the responders that he was sitting in his car when he saw a silver Subaru traveling aggressively fast.
He added that the Subaru driver cut some cars and drove off. Around 10 minutes later, the Subaru plowed into the building, which is located next to a seafood market. The driver, a 49-year-old man, then came out of the vehicle and started running in and out of traffic. Callers to 911 also informed seeing the man cutting himself with a knife. Once officers arrived, they tried to contact the man but he refused to stop and continued running.
After briefly chasing the man, the man was arrested in the 500 block of South Michigan Street. He was then taken to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. Reports further revealed that the Subaru’s engine bay ignited, setting the building on fire. After confirming that no one was inside the vehicle, firefighters started working to pour water on the fire.
Authorities also conducted a search of the building and found no one inside. The fire did not spread to any other buildings and was put out by 7:11 a.m. Investigators with the fire department estimated the loss at $185,000. Michigan Street was closed to traffic as crews worked at the scene, but was back open a little before 9 a.m. The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections was requested to complete an assessment of the building to find out if it was safe to reoccupy.
According to the police, the suspect might have been under the influence of narcotics at the time of the collision, and they examined him for DUI. He was also detained on charges of property damage, obstruction and hit and run. After he is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the King County Jail. No further details were provided.
The crash remains under investigation.
June 30, 2022
Source: KIRO 7 Seattle