2 women injured in pair of accidents

Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2006

LYNNWOOD – Dark, rainy weather may have contributed to a pair of accidents Tuesday morning that left two Snohomish County women with serious injuries.

The women, ages 19 and 43, were hit by cars while using crosswalks, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said.

Both women were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Sessions said.

The 19-year-old woman, of Edmonds, was walking to class at Edmonds Community College about 7:30 a.m. when she was struck by a car driving north on 68th Avenue W., Sessions said.

The woman, whose birthday is today, was knocked out of her shoes and thrown about 75 feet, Sessions said.

Police detained the driver, a 22-year-old Lynnwood man, to verify his citizenship, Sessions said.

Then, about 11 a.m. Tuesday, a 43-year-old woman walking the Interurban Trail was hit by a car as she crossed 66th Avenue W., Sessions said. Police believe the driver, an 18-year-old Brier woman, hit her brakes but couldn’t stop in time, Sessions said.

Police closed off 66th Avenue W. between 212th Street SW and 216th Street SW while they investigated the accident. The road was reopened within a couple hours.

Sessions asked anyone who saw either accident to call the Lynnwood Police Department’s traffic section at 425-744-6900.

Lynnwood police have ticketed nearly 100 drivers for failing to yield to pedestrians during three crosswalk stings over the past several months.

Pedestrians must also be cautious when stepping out into traffic, Sessions said.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.