SFD medics delayed getting to fatal accident scene after reports of gunshots

SEATTLE — A West Seattle neighborhood is calling for change after a pedestrian was struck and killed there Friday night.

And now Seattle Fire is confirming it took 15 minutes for medics to arrive because of a mix-up.

The fatal accident happened at 10 p.m. on California Avenue Southwest, just north of Findlay Street.

Residents said medics took so long to arrive that they felt they were watching a man die.

That man was struck as he and two companions crossed California Avenue Southwest in this area.

Eyewitnesses say his body came to rest right across the street.

It has been nearly three days since a man was struck and killed here on busy California Avenue Southwest, and the impact is still being felt by those who were here.

“Unfortunately, it’s not the first time somebody has got hit out here,” said neighbor Jamie Dawalt. “That’s why I’m very shaken up about it. I haven’t been good over the past weekend.”

Dawalt says she was jolted out of bed Friday night by the sound of screeching tires.

“And, don’t want to go into much detail, I heard a woman screaming,” said Dawalt. “And my boyfriend and I ran out. And everybody else ran out. And everyone called 911.”

And they waited.

“Vehicle versus pedestrian,” said the 911 operator. “Vehicle took off (unintelligible) around California Avenue Southwest, Southwest Findlay.”

According to Seattle fire, the first 911 call about the accident came in at 10:01 p.m. Friday. But almost immediately, they got information that someone may have been shot.

“It’s now a shooting. The caller heard a shot,” said the 911 operator. “Then the crash and a female yells, ‘She’s been shot.’ "

“Engine 32, Ladder 11 and Medic 32 are all responding,” said the SFD dispatcher, “5440 California Avenue Southwest.”

That was 10:03 p.m. But the fire units did not immediately drive to the scene, to the consternation of those waiting for help for a dying man.

“My boyfriend took off that way because he heard the fire department and the ambulance,” said Dawalt. “So, he ran all the way to the (West Seattle) Junction. They’re waiting for the go ahead. And he says, ‘No, it was a car, it was a car.’ And then they went.”

The medics waited until Seattle police gave the all-clear. By then, 15 long minutes had passed since they got the first 911 call.

No one had been shot. But Seattle Fire says when there is a report of shots fired, their protocol is to wait for Seattle police to clear the scene.

The victim died where he lay.

Residents here say they believe this could have been prevented if traffic was forced to stop at this intersection.

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