Curious about car accident

August 29, 2005 12:37 PM

Saturday night there was a terrible multi-car accident directly outside my Seattle home. The police were still investigating the scene and had the street taped off 8 hours later. How can I learn more about what happened?

Call it morbid curiosity or call it caution about the strange angled intersection right by my house -- I want to know what happened. The local news didn't pick up the story, and I don't see any mention of a general police blotter on the spd's website. How can I learn more about the accident?

posted by arielmeadow to Law & Government (11 answers total)

What neighborhood do you live in?
posted by xmutex at 1:25 PM on August 29, 2005

I would think the police themselves would be the best source of information since they conducted the investigation. They probably won't release their report to you as it is most likely unfinished, but they would be able to confirm the accident and fatalities(if any) I would think.
posted by a3matrix at 1:30 PM on August 29, 2005

98112 is south cap hill/central/madison
posted by matildaben at 1:30 PM on August 29, 2005

Response by poster: I haven't updated my profile: I'm actually in 98178, which is Rainier Beach, up near Skyway.
posted by arielmeadow at 1:53 PM on August 29, 2005

Response by poster: And for the curious: photograph.
posted by arielmeadow at 1:58 PM on August 29, 2005

Call the local city police that handle it. Is Rainier Beach its own city or would the Seattle cops have responded? Or does it fall to the county (sheriff). Figure that out, then call the department. Ask how you get ahold of their blotter. Most departments don't have that information online - Seattle might but the surrounding towns are pretty much guaranteed not to. Basically, go down to the station, ask to see their blotter or public log. I find it handy to be a reporter in these situations but anyone should be able to access the information.
posted by Happydaz at 3:17 PM on August 29, 2005

Best answer: I found this in the PI.
posted by GaelFC at 3:17 PM on August 29, 2005

I should mention, even if the report itself is unfinished, they have to let you see the blotter. Sometimes it's only a title page but that should be enough. Often that gives you the officer's name, etc, who you can call up and pump for information.
posted by Happydaz at 3:18 PM on August 29, 2005

Best answer: Seattle Real Time 911 Dispatch.

It might give you some sort of idea of what happened there.
posted by spinifex23 at 3:22 PM on August 29, 2005

Ariel, didn't you work at the Seattle Times? I always call a bud on the metro desk or in the dispatch room for this kind of inside info.
posted by GaelFC at 3:47 PM on August 29, 2005

Response by poster: GaelFC, I used to work for the Times, but it was in the Marketing department, which was kept far, far away from the news folks. Regardless, I'm no longer there. Nice sleuthing on the P-I article -- THANKS!
posted by arielmeadow at 4:57 PM on August 29, 2005