Editorials / Opinion

Seattle Times letters to the editor

Action should preclude tragedy

The tragedy on Northeast 75th Street was a needless event [“The road to tragedy: alcohol, second chances,” page one, March 27]. The city has known of the speeding issues on Northeast 75th. The driver was known to have alcohol issues and never installed an alcohol-sensitive ignition lock mandated by the court.

When the court mandates something, whose responsibility is it to ensure it is done? Two examples of the government failing to protect its citizens. Killing two people outright, critically injuring two more, indicates the driver was going way too fast.

I wrote to the Seattle Police Department a few months ago with my concerns about the speeding and lawlessness on Northeast 75th. I was reassured that patrols would be stepped up, yet never saw anyone pulled over for speeding. One article referenced a study finding 85 percent of westbound drivers were driving 37 mph or less [“For neighborhood, heavy traffic on N.E. 75th a growing concern,” News], but 37 mph is still speeding. I wrote in my letter to the SPD that a tragedy was waiting to happen. Unfortunately, that was a self-fulfilling prophecy and a family is destroyed due to inactions of the city and the actions of an individual.

Why does it take a tragedy to spur action?

–Karen Kilian, Seattle