We received the e-mail below from Tara last night. Before I quote it, I want to warn you that it’s unpleasant news, nothing you want to read on a Saturday morning, I’m afraid.
Today at 12:20pm a Metro Bus, coming along Meridian hit my dog and killed him. Having heard that a Metro Bus hit a pedestrian this week I want to ask: Do these buses need to drive like maniacs through our neighborhoods? I am always shocked at how fast the buses come down Meridian, all my neighbors are. What if it had been my young son who had stepped off the curb?
The fact that my daughter had just got into the very bus that killed her dog, and that the driver knew he had hit a dog, and after letting her off because she was hysterical, drove off, makes me wonder even more. Is no one responsible? Does no one even care anymore! Wait, that’s not entirely true, my neighbors care, and the two women who got off the bus with my daughter and tried to help Pablo and my daughter, and the stranger who stopped his car and drove me and my dying dog to the vet, they all cared. I wish I could thank them for caring and let them know how deeply they touched my heart. As for the bus driver… I just don’t understand.
While this is a tragedy, the light that shines through it is that our neighbors here in Wallingford took the time out of their day, decided to be late going to wherever they were going, to give comfort and aid to Tara, her daughter and their dog. Thank you.
Tara, our heart goes out to you and your family.
Tara, I am so sorry for you and your family for the loss of your beloved dog. I assume that you have reported the driver’s actions and insensitiveness to Metro. Could you please clarify as to whether or not your dog was on a leash?
Really sorry to hear of your loss Tara. That’s pretty devastating to happen in front of you. I’m surprised the driver didn’t stop to check out the scene.
Although Meridian is an arterial, it always amazes me as to the speed they drive those big sport cars, it’s definitely well over the speed limit. I regularly see them shooting the light at 50th. Where on Meridian did this happen?
Steve
So very sorry for your loss, Tara. Please do report this to Metro. You probably don’t have the bus number, but if you know the location, direction of travel and time, they can figure it out. And don’t let them tell you otherwise. They’ve done it for me before.
I hope your family, and especially your daughter, can recover from this devastating tragedy.
On another note about neighbors — Wednesday night during rush hour, I was crossing the street on foot at 40th & Wallingford Ave when a jogger ran past me as if she were going to rescue someone. She was. I had my hoodie up due to the rain, so I didn’t notice at first, but the jogger & 3 cars going eastbound on 40th, and 1 car going westbound on 40th, all stopped to push a stalled car out of traffic. They acted like it was a dire emergency — which it could’ve been if the stalled car had been hit by someone who didn’t realize the situation. Good work, neighbors.
This is very sad indeed. I cant help but wonder also if the dog got off a leash, sneaked out of the house or was on a leash when hit.
I have a horrilble pictur ein my mind of a dog chasing out from a house to say bye for the day to a child and no one really at fault. A bus driver can not see right under his wheels.
The bus hits a dog. Please don’t assume the bus driver is at fault. There are irresponsible dog owners everywhere in Seattle who think the whole world is an off leash dog park.
So sorry for the family’s loss. I ride the 26 every single day, to and from work, and the drivers are very responsible. Maybe the driver thought the situation was under control, considering that other people had helped. This is very unfortunate. Everyone needs to be more careful.
Obviously this was a very tragic accident and I don’t think anybody is setting blame on anybody. Appointing blame can only be done by the people that witnessed the accident. The issue is that the driver knew he was involved in an accident but failed to stop. Would he have stopped if it were a child or another car?
A related issue that may have been a contributing factor is that careless bus drivers regularity drive too fast in this area. The dog being on a leash or not is a whole other issue, which I would be more than love to debate on another thread.
Steve
I agree with Steve; the dog being on or off leash is a different matter. I have lived on 2nd for 20 years and the bus roars down the hill. There are more than 15 children under the age of 5 on my block alone. I have never seen anyone run into the street but it could happen (and we don’t keep our kids on a leash by the way…)
well, very sadly if the dog were on a leash it wouldn’t have been killed.
Mimi, you’re 100% correct, (at least I hope the dog wasn’t on a leash). Tragic accidents happen, and Tara’s family will have to live with that situation. Again, I’m sorry for the loss.
The problems are that the driver didn’t stop after being involved in an accident to check out the scene, and that metro buses consistently speed through the neighborhood. Metro’s track record of irresponsibility doesn’t help the drivers position either.
Steve
Mimi, you should think very carefully about how it’s going to make someone feel to hear what you just said. True or not (and honestly, I don’t know, since we don’t know whether the dog was on a leash, whether it slipped the leash, etc.), it’s shamefully tactless and rude to tell someone they are responsible for the death of a loved one. Imagine her pain, and imagine what you’ve just added to it. I would apologize if I were you.
I am not making anyone feel any way. The deep sadness of a situation has already happened and the owner is already thinking this unless he/she never cared about leash laws.. I said what is true. If the dog was not on a leash and ran in front of the bus the dog was terribly at risk. That is tragic, but not the bus driver’s fault.
The part about not stopping is a different issue and a phone call to Metro would be the best course for chang eor grievance.
I just want to set the record straight, Pablo was not on leash, but neither was he allowed out of our garden, which is well fenced and gated because we have children as well. Pablo was a sweet, jolly fellow, who loved everyone. All our neighbors knew him. Pablo was an adventurer, and did his best to figure out how to get out of our garden. We really thought we had fool proofed every inch and we had, but accidents happen, and someone did not latch the gate properly.
The reason I wanted to post this tragedy on the Wallyhood blog is that when I moved into this house all my neighbors warned us about this street and how fast everyone drove down it, most especially the buses. There have been numerous accidents and the buses often sideswipe cars parked along the road taking the side mirrors off. No one needs to chide us with comments about it being our “fault” we already know that. We accept blame and carry the pain of our loss as any punishment. We have an accurate word in English, it’s called an “accident”, which is very different than an “on purpose”.
I hope everyone reading this slows down.
So sorry to hear of your loss Tara. My dog was an escape artist as well – I know what it feels like to think you’ve completely pet-proofed the fence and they still find a way out.
Well said Tara. I live two blocks north of the light at 50th and regularly see drivers trying to make the light, especially during rush hour. I really wish everyone would slow down. An extra 5 minutes at that light won’t ruin your day.
Clarification: I live on Meridian, two blocks north of the light at 50th.
So sorry for your family’s loss, and your daughter’s trauma, Tara. A very sad convergence of circumstances. I know I’ll slow down on Meridian from here on out.
So terribly sorry, I wish that everyone would drive slower, everywhere, and realize the roads are not just for cars, trucks and buses. Consider also the wild animals like squirrels and birds and all the other little critters. They have a right to be considered.They don’t have parents telling them where to cross.
I pride myself on driving slowly down most inner city streets around Wallingford in case a squirrel darts out, or a cat has a great idea about something going on across the street.
It’s nice to slow down, and let everyone be a little safer.
Remember animals are just little people in fur coats.
Thank you dear neighbors. The more we think and care for each others the richer we become in heart.
As a human companion to 2 much loved dogs, and others over the years, i know what it’s like to lose them. My heart grieves for you, Tara, and your family’s loss of Pablo, but most particularly for your daughter witnessing the trauma of his passing. Many blessings sent in this sad time.
So sorry for your loss. This unfortunate event makes me realize that it is important to complain to Metro when we see bus drivers driving badly. Often on Latona, the bus driver going north about 7:30 on Friday evening is a full foot over the center line. Busses routinely run the red light at 45th and 7th NE heading east toward the u district. Maybe we all should start reporting these things until Metro does something about it. We could make Pablo’s death a positive thing for our neighbor hood. Line 20 says it all Tara. We care.
If the dog in question was not on a leash being attended by its owner, too bad.
You should note that the recent downtown fatality was of a women who stepped into the street in front of a bus that had the green light and thus the right-of-way.
Sorry for your loss. I know it hurts.
Could have been the dog excited to be with her charge/girl, could have been a child or parent or nanny stepping out. I agree that there is no value in blaming the custodian of a ‘leashless’ pet. Pay attention; look around. Everyone. I respect Metro has a schedule to keep, but have been – as a driver – put in dangerous situations as the driver takes his/her right of way. Sorry for you loss.
I am absolutely appalled at some of the cruel comments posted here. Obviously many of the posters don’t have pets or children whom they care about. Accidents do happen. Pets and children escape from the most foolproof situations. Please have a heart and realize that none of us are perfect.
Ohn, you have the guts of a slug,you cowardly s.o.b.
to say “too bad”,– you’ll get yours you less than human piece of c*ap.
YES,Native, the posters who do not know the value of a human ,or a loving pet’s life,
-well,who could explain such a condition?
Where there are children and pets,-Anyone can see that drivers are going way too fast.
To the family that this happened to,I am so,so sorry.
Call metro
Call Seattle police
Report the incident
Ask for policy- what was the busdriver ‘supposed’ to do ? Did he/she do so?
What is best way to ‘slow’ down bus drivers? There was a newspaper article a few months ago relaying information about how busdrivers’ breaks were cut in order to save money and to KEEP buses On schedule.
Anyone at that time could have called 911 to get a police report.
A pet’s death is tragic and a child witnessing such saddens us. It was definitely a tragic accident, but not fair to immediately throw blame at driver who may have been operating ‘under policy’. Very fair to report and get witness statements.
Tara, I am so sad for your family’s loss. Pablo sounds like an integral member of your family. Please try to forgive those who cannot resist using your sadness as an opportunity to express themselves about how others should behave.
Has anyone been following the story about the woman who was found murdered off West Seattle’s shores last week? I knew the West Seattle Blog would have more detail than the popular media & went there to read up on the story. I was so struck by the CIVILITY of the 1st 122 Comments that I wrote the blog’s editors & asked why West Seattle doesn’t have any trolls & doesn’t blame the victim. (They do make Comments like that, but the blog edits them out.)
So, since Wallyhood has a much more open commenting policy, I encourage everyone to read these Comments & perhaps we can learn to be more polite to one another in times of distress: http://westseattleblog.com/2012/03/woman-found-dead-off-beach-drive-now-believed-to-be-murder-victim
How horrible. I’m so sorry for this family’s loss. I grew up with dogs and I know that even the best-trained dog with the strongest fence can slip away at just the wrong moment. That’s why they’re called “accidents.”
Here is a link to a newsletter article I helped write on helping children deal with grief and loss. (Page 4.) I hope it helps.
I know I’m guilty of driving too fast on Meridian sometimes, so I appreciate the sobering news and will do my part to slow the hell down.
It’s a shame that the dog was running loose but the actions of the Metro driver are not excuseable.
The busses do fly through this neighborhood (well over 30 mph) and often do not follow the traffic laws: I CONSISTENTLY see Metro busses ignoring pedestrians in the crosswalk (i.e. N 45th & Burke) and intersections (unmarked crosswalks), blocking intersections (so intent on preserving their “space” they block cross traffic AND pedestrians and running through red lights (N 45th & Wallingford Ave., N 50th & Meridian Ave.), I have been driving down Meridian and had an oncoming Metro bus cross the centerline and knock my mirror back TWICE (that’s a VERY close call).
It’s about time that the SPD and Metro Police make an effort to enforce the traffic laws for all vehicles, including Metro busses.
The change will only happen if people make phone calls and email several times- Metro, SPD, WCC, WCC. Posting will not change anything except vent frustrations. Pick up the phone, please.
Chris W- The West Seattle Blog does have high standards for posting. This story would not have made the West Seattle Blog as news. It may have been a thread on a forum but only if the poster had stated what actions she had taken with Metro’s management first. And may I add that West Seattle loves its dogs, having more of them than kids!
I am very sorry for your family’s loss, and that your daughter had to witness Pablo’s death. Losing a family pet is terrible.
If you see a Metro driver driving badly, call 206-553-3000 and file a complaint with the most specific information you can give about date, time, route, direction of travel, and — if possible — the bus number. This information really does get fed back to Metro’s base chiefs (immediate driver supervisors) and drivers do get disciplined or terminated for complaints of this sort. If no one files specific complaints, nothing happens.
My apologies for allowing someone’s callous comment to get my goat earlier–
Here’s what Mayor McGinn sent out today – some of it’s pertinent:
From the 2012 Transportation Action Agenda: Keeping it Safe
Our Transportation Action Agenda helps guide the work that we do at the City on transportation issues. Safety is SDOT’s most important priority – our goal is a city where no one dies in a traffic collision.
People expect to feel safe and comfortable as they are out and about on Seattle’s streets, sidewalks, and trails. Well-placed changes that focus on pedestrians and bicyclists improve safety for our most vulnerable road users and can encourage more people to try getting around on people power, especially for short trips. Additionally, safer streets are efficient streets. They have fewer and less severe collisions, allowing everyone to get where they are going safely and with less hassle.
“Keeping it Safe” is the first of five principles in the Transportation Action Agenda. Our approach to keeping it safe includes four different policy goals:
1. Reduce collisions for all modes and work toward zero fatalities and serious injuries
2. Educate the traveling public to respect and protect one another
3. Minimize conflicts in the right of way to accommodate all travelers
4. Be ready to respond to emergencies
To examine all the policy goals, actions, and the metrics that we’ll use to keep it safe, we invite you to take a closer look at the Transportation Action Agenda.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/sdotreports.htm
Our heart and condolences go out to Tara and her family for their tragic loss. Pablo was a gret customer and he will be missed by us as well.
Thanks Floor Pie, I liked the newsletter a lot. Sadly on the Monday before Pablo’s death my preschool in lower Wallingford lost its rabbit. Coco, our rabbit hopped out of his warm barn where he lived with his best friend Oliver, a mini pig, and dropped down dead. (He was not on a leash either as our preschool garden is also completely fenced in.) So the newsletter you directed me to was extra helpful, for other families. May I please forward it on to our school families?
I run Fremont Community School and own Tara’s Tots, so I have many children who know and love and are grieving for both Pablo and Coco.
Again many thanks to all of you, and I am making my complaint to Metro, and am going to simply ask them to slow down the buses.
Tara
My 80 year old uncle was out one morning early, walking his dog, in his neighborhood when he was “accidentally” hit by a car going way to fast. He died instantly; no apparent sufferring. The day will come when the day won’t. Thanks for the the reminder to slow down, pay attention, tell the truth w/compassion, let go of results and when there’s upset and/or breakdown…clean it up, do the repair work and the healing will happen organically…or not. Humbling opportunities for growth. peace out and aloha
It’s possible that the bus driver may not have even known this happened. Not to put too fine a point on it, but there are many lumps in the streets. That this happened to be an (probably) off-leash dog is too bad, but if folks won’t keep their animals under control, this will happen now and then. Not the bus driver’s fault.
I just found this blog. I’m surprised at what I’m reading because I was on the bus that struck Pablo. I’m very sorry for your loss, Tara and family. However, I would like to share what I witnessed. The driver was traveling at most 15 or 20 mph when Pablo ran in front of the bus. The driver tried to stop and immediately stopped once he knew he had not been able to avoid the dog. He used the bus radio to call a supervisor and report it. He then got out to survey the scene. A passenger called the Stone Way Vet Clinic and told the driver that the clinic would be able to accept the dog. The driver made sure the dog was being transported to the vet hospital, then contacted the supervisor again. Then departed. I felt that the driver handled it very professionally.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Witness. We use the vet clinic on Stone Way – glad to know they were willing & able to try to help!
Dear Witness, Thank you so much for this update. The only information I had was from my daughter, and she was in shock. Your words warmed my heart. I can see I made assumptions about the speed of the bus and the actions the driver may or may not have taken. I am so grateful for the light you shed.
I talked to a friend , who also drives the 16, and he talked about this stretch of the route and how neighbors need to call in to Metro and ask for a slow down variance for the stretch of Meridian from 55th down to 65th. (There are buses coming north on Meridian who drive way too fast.)
I wish I could thank all the people whom came to our aid last Friday. There was a complete stranger who drove Pablo and me to the vet. The kindness of strangers is always so amazing. I have called all of you Angels of mercy.
So sorry, it is so sad to lose a beloved pet. The information exchange above and civil discourse is refreshing (in large part anyway).
Thackeray Place NE below 45th Street worked with METRO and received a METRO 20mph zone back in 1998 and it is still in effect. Like Meridian, Thackeray is an arterial with an unposted speed limit of 30mph. Generally the bus makes at least one stop either at the 45th corner or the stop in the 4200 block, both before a forced turn at 40th with a posted speed of 15mph; as a result most busses are in compliance and slower buses make for slower vehicles behind them.
METRO was and continues to be a good neighbor to us. They also recently removed a bus shelter at 50th and Latona after neighbors there identified it as a trouble spot.
whoops, the bus shelter was at 50th and Thackeray!
One last note ~ the bus driver of the #16 bus that ran over Pablo came to our home today. He told my husband his side of the tragedy and spoke of his reaction to Pablo’s death and how shaken he has been by it. He called the vet to line up care for Pablo. He called his supervisor and requested the rest of the day off as he was so shaken by the event. He then came to our home and brought a card. My husband cried all over again, so did I, and I see how many lives we each of us touch and the ripple effects of such a moment. I have gone through all of the “if onlys” and come back to the same place each time ~ here we are. Pablo is gone. Our lives altered.
And next time the dog will be on a leash I presume. Poor bus driver, everyone keeps worrying about the family who lost the dog, what about the bus driver, he didn’t do anything and yet had to deal with this as the dog was not on a leash.
I watched my beloved Cocker Spaniel, “Wags” die under the wheels of a car he was chasing on Densmore more than 70 years ago. I was inconsolable for a long time and still want to cry when I remember it. The driver was not at fault, but that didn’t ease my pain.