Pedestrian struck, killed on busy West Seattle street

SEATTLE — Police are investigating after a man was struck and killed as he and a group ran across a busy West Seattle street Friday night.

Around 10 p.m., officers were called to the 5400 block of California Avenue for reports of a collision.

Officers initially reported it as a hit-and-run, but police said the driver returned to the scene and cooperated with officers.

It was raining Friday night when the man was fatally struck on the busy street.

Seattle police said the victim was one of three people who had been dropped off on the west side of California Avenue. The group then crossed to the east side of the street, but in the middle of the block.

“At this point, we don’t believe the pedestrians were walking on a marked crosswalk,” police said.

A driver traveling northbound on California struck the man.

“This crosswalk is very dangerous. I have personally been close to getting hit. My husband has been really close. It’s really dangerous,” said Kristine Morgan, who lives in the area.

On Saturday, a KIRO 7 crew that returned to the scene to find out what happened saw someone had left flowers where the man died.

Seattle police have not said whether the driver will face any charges, but said he did not appear to be impaired.

The investigation is ongoing.

Witnesses reported seeing three people, including the victim, being dropped off from a car on the west side of California Avenue Southwest.

As they were crossing the street mid-block, a driver traveling northbound struck the victim.

The driver initially left the scene after the collision, but he later returned and reportedly cooperated with police.

Detectives with the SPD Traffic Collision Investigation Squad identified and interviewed the driver.

After evaluating him, officers detected no signs of impairment.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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