Woman arrested for vehicular assault after Lake Washington crash leaves teenager seriously injured

SEATTLE — A woman is facing vehicular assault charges after a car crashed into Lake Washington Saturday evening, sending her and a teenage passenger to the hospital.

The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) reported that crews on the X responded to reports of a car in the water during a boat launch at Be’er Sheva Park in the 9000 block of Seward Park Ave S.

SFD reported that crews arrived at the scene and found the vehicle approximately 30-40 meters from the shoreline. The Seattle Police Department’s Harbor Patrol worked with firefighters to locate the person in the water.

Four of SFD’s rescue swimmers, four divers and two rescue watercraft entered the water and began searching for the unidentified person. According to SFD, two aerial ladders with lights were removed upon launching the boat to assist in the search efforts.

A Seattle police investigation revealed that the two women were parked at the Atlantic City Boat Ramp before the crash.

After the car rolled into the water, the 20-year-old driver managed to get out of the window, followed by the 17-year-old passenger. Police said they both got out of the vehicle, but the passenger was unable to swim to shore.

The rescue swimmer found the 17-year-old girl in the water and brought her to shore. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

According to SFD, the 20-year-old driver exited the vehicle on his own. It was learned that the woman, whose condition was stable, was hospitalized.

According to the SFD PIO, the woman was detained due to negligence. Seattle police later said the woman was arrested for vehicular assault after showing signs of impairment.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Traffic Collision Investigation Team at 206-684-8923.