Suspected car thief crashes in Delridge, injuring four
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SEATTLE -- A suspected car thief who was speeding away from the scene of a burglary crashed head-on into another car in Delridge Tuesday afternoon.
Police say the crash happened at 4:15 p.m. in the 2300 block of SW Webster Street when a man driving a stolen Mercedes Benz lost control of the car and slammed head-on into a BMW.
Four people, including the suspected car thief, were injured in the crash, though all four are expected to survive.
Police first responded to a report of a car theft Tuesday morning in Seattle. The car's owner left the keys inside her green 1988 Mercedes Benz while she briefly went inside her house. When she returned, the car was gone.
Hours later, officers responded to burglary in progress in West Seattle. When they arrived on scene, they saw a Mercedes speeding away from the burglarized home. Police did not give chase, but they know the car ended up on SW Webster because officers at a nearby police precinct witnessed the crash.
All lanes of traffic on Delridge Way SW near the crash site are blocked to traffic while police investigate.
Police say the crash happened at 4:15 p.m. in the 2300 block of SW Webster Street when a man driving a stolen Mercedes Benz lost control of the car and slammed head-on into a BMW.
Four people, including the suspected car thief, were injured in the crash, though all four are expected to survive.
Police first responded to a report of a car theft Tuesday morning in Seattle. The car's owner left the keys inside her green 1988 Mercedes Benz while she briefly went inside her house. When she returned, the car was gone.
Hours later, officers responded to burglary in progress in West Seattle. When they arrived on scene, they saw a Mercedes speeding away from the burglarized home. Police did not give chase, but they know the car ended up on SW Webster because officers at a nearby police precinct witnessed the crash.
All lanes of traffic on Delridge Way SW near the crash site are blocked to traffic while police investigate.
 @Whobeke where does is say it was INTENTIONAL... this wasn't torture.
I bet he was black.
I didn't know that Delridge was an area. I always thought it was just a street.
 @johnbe It is a way of life.
It seems as though burglary is the #1 occupation for stupid people...so stupid you can't even commit a crime correctly!
well lets all pray for the innocent girls that hass ben hit .
well lets pray for the innocent girls that hass been hit,
Hang em!
Every year the news tellls people NOT to leave your car running unattended to heat it up.Â
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So dumb!Â
 @lakeview And it's even dumber that the news or anyone needs to tell you not to leave your car unattended with the key in the ignition and/or with the engine running. It's like needing a law to tell you that texting, or basically taking your eyes off of the road/not paying attention, may not be a good idea. Reading the news makes it fairly apparent that the human race is not getting any smarter. If anything we're heading the wrong direction. Something in the water?
 @lakeview And this has WHAT to do with this story?
@WhatdidIsay? Reading comprehension FAIL on your part. "The car's owner left the keys inside her green 1988 Mercedes Benz while she briefly went inside her house. When she returned, the car was gone."
@slappywag @SilverGryphon Its a shame that there A LAW like that so the insurance companies can put the blame on the owner instead where it belong the criminal.
 @slappywag I never said they shouldn't. I was pointing out WhatdidIsay? 's failure to read the article.
@SilverGryphonThey should charge the vehicle owner under 46.61.600. If I was one of the injured parties, I would be suing her and/or her insurance. She broke the law by leaving her keys in the vehicle, and due to her negligent action these people were injured by the person who stole her vehicle.
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RCW 46.61.600 Unattended motor vehicle.
(1) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.     (2) The most recent driver of a motor vehicle which the driver has left standing unattended, who learns that the vehicle has become set in motion and has struck another vehicle or property, or has caused injury to any person, shall comply with the requirements of:     (a) RCW 46.52.010 if his or her vehicle strikes an unattended vehicle or property adjacent to a public highway; or     (b) RCW 46.52.020 if his or her vehicle causes damage to an attended vehicle or other property or injury to any person.     (3) Any person failing to comply with subsection (2)(b) of this section shall be subject to the sanctions set forth in RCW 46.52.020.
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RCW 46.52.020 Duty in case of personal injury or death or damage to attended vehicle or other property â Penalties.
(1) A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.     (2)(a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person or damage to other property must move the vehicle as soon as possible off the roadway or freeway main lanes, shoulders, medians, and adjacent areas to a location on an exit ramp shoulder, the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location. The driver shall remain at the suitable location until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (3) of this section. Moving the vehicle in no way affects fault for an accident.     (b) A law enforcement officer or representative of the department of transportation may cause a motor vehicle, cargo, or debris to be moved from the roadway; and neither the department of transportation representative, nor anyone acting under the direction of the officer or the department of transportation representative is liable for damage to the motor vehicle, cargo, or debris caused by reasonable efforts of removal.     (3) Unless otherwise provided in subsection (7) of this section the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or involving striking the body of a deceased person, or resulting in damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person or damage to other property shall give his or her name, address, insurance company, insurance policy number, and vehicle license number and shall exhibit his or her vehicle driver's license to any person struck or injured or the driver or any occupant of, or any person attending, any such vehicle collided with and shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of such person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person or on his or her behalf. Under no circumstances shall the rendering of assistance or other compliance with the provisions of this subsection be evidence of the liability of any driver for such accident.     (4)(a) Any driver covered by the provisions of subsection (1) of this section failing to stop or comply with any of the requirements of subsection (3) of this section in the case of an accident resulting in death is guilty of a class B felony and, upon conviction, is punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.     (b) Any driver covered by the provisions of subsection (1) of this section failing to stop or comply with any of the requirements of subsection (3) of this section in the case of an accident resulting in injury is guilty of a class C felony and, upon conviction, is punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.     (c) Any driver covered by the provisions of subsection (1) of this section failing to stop or comply with any of the requirements of subsection (3) of this section in the case of an accident involving striking the body of a deceased person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.     (d) This subsection shall not apply to any person injured or incapacitated by such accident to the extent of being physically incapable of complying with this section.     (5) Any driver covered by the provisions of subsection (2) of this section failing to stop or to comply with any of the requirements of subsection (3) of this section under said circumstances shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor: PROVIDED, That this provision shall not apply to any person injured or incapacitated by such accident to the extent of being physically incapable of complying herewith.     (6) The license or permit to drive or any nonresident privilege to drive of any person convicted under this section or any local ordinance consisting of substantially the same language as this section of failure to stop and give information or render aid following an accident with any vehicle driven or attended by any person shall be revoked by the department.     (7) If none of the persons specified are in condition to receive the information to which they otherwise would be entitled under subsection (3) of this section, and no police officer is present, the driver of any vehicle involved in such accident after fulfilling all other requirements of subsections (1) and (3) of this section insofar as possible on his or her part to be performed, shall forthwith report such accident to the nearest office of the duly authorized police authority and submit thereto the information specified in subsection (3) of this section.
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Dude needs to hone his craft a bit more. A true embarrassment to all successful car thieves...
@Throbbinhood Uh, not really. They all need to quit or be rehabilitated by armed property owners and or law enforcement officers. Couple of slugs in the rear end is going to make them think twice before taking things that don't belong to them.
@what? The breeze from my sad attempt at sarcasm going over your head is quite refreshing.
Automatic grounds for execution.
This idiot is no doubt part of the 15% of our population doing the 85% of the crimes. I have $ to bet the cops know just who this thug is. How many laws were broken here? No more laws, please. Enforce existing and throw 'em away for awhile. Sounds so easy
@Troglidite I agree, but think we need to add that there not be any more plea deals. They need to toss everything at them they can find, not make excuses to lessen the charges.
"The car's owner left the keys inside her green 1988 Mercedes Benz while she briefly went inside her house. When she returned, the car was gone."
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Did you hear that, insurance company?!
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 @TheAppleState Take a gander at 46.61.600 I posted above. She should be charged for leaving her keys in the vehicle.
We need to change the law so that this sort of thing can be prosecuted as attempted murder. Also, since car wrecks can be incredibly painful for victims, it should be possible to charge the suspect with the crime of "torture," which is a specific criminal offense in many states that can carry 30 years or more in prison.
@Whobeke Attempted murder yes, torture no. While we're at it, how about assult with a deadly weapon (car)?
 @what?  @WhobekeÂ
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How is it NOT torture to intentionally ram a heavy glass-and-steel vehicle into another person with such great force that the other person's bones are often broken, among other injuries, and then leaving the person out in the cold without anesthesia or other pain relief for what is potentially quite a while, depending on the site of the wreck?
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That sounds like torture to me. And torture is wrong.
Thats to bad the driver of the stolen Mercedes Benz is expected to survive the crash.
Mugshot of the lady that left her car running she should be charged just like the theif that stole the car.
Charge the victim with what exactly? And what would that accomplish?Â
 @snow surfer 46.61.600. She left the keys in the vehicle. She is to blame.
@Seattle 1. It does not say she left the car running, she left her keys in it. Not real smart, but certainly not illegal. 2. It's still wrong to steal no matter how hard or easy it is. 3. It's thief, not theif (I before E except after c.......)
Doesn't even say the keys was in the ignition, just "in the car" BUT, the news reporters do mention the car is green, I guess that is a more valuable information!
 @WhatdidIsay? Who would remove the key from the ignition then leave it in the vehicle? Not bloody likely. I am betting that she left the vehicle RUNNING and/or left the key in the ignition, which is illegal, period.
Great, another crime report lacking in all the important details. So far, we have Grand Theft Auto, Vehicular assault and B&E. But with the pansy revolving door King Co. Court system, the perp and cohorts (if any) will be out and free to loot, pillage and steal again quite soon. Also, the Lady who left the car running for a few minutes while stepping inside? Really? Einstien award presented to Her now! This truly is a case of Dumb and Dumber.
 @Suspishissofu What is the "Einstien" award?
Albert Einstein, was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, effecting a revolution in physics.
Names? Mugshots?
@TheTruncheon Aww c'mon. Have a heart... What you're asking would involve some real investigative reporting instead of sitting around listening to a police scanner.