[EDITOR'S NOTE: From our sister site The B-Town Blog comes this news of a tragedy affecting the Manager of Mick Kelly's Irish Pub in Burien:]

Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer

When a spouse dies, the surviving partner is called a “widow” or “widower.”

But what can one possibly call a parent whose young child dies a terrible, tragic death?

The grief one must feel when ones’ own child dies tragically is so incredibly severe there really can be no name for it, so we’ll just leave it as that – unnameable.

Such is the case with Dermot Owens, longtime Manager and bartender at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub in Burien. His grief is most certainly unnameable now, as he lost his five-year old son Shea in a tragic accident when he was run over by Dermot’s SUV at their home in Newcastle last Friday (April 16).

“What a great Father he was,” said Mick Purdy, co-owner of Mick Kelly’s, and Dermot’s boss. “We all saw Shea grow up right here, running around the place. To have this tragedy happen is just unbelievable. We’re all in a state of shock…”

UPDATE: There will be a benefit concert for Dermot at Mick Kelly’s on Thursday, May 6th starting at 6:00pm, with live music and a raffle to raise money so Dermot can take time to be with his friends and family.

The Burien branch of Key Bank (655 Southwest 152nd Street • 206-241-9348) has set up an account called “The Little Shea Memorial Fund” where people can donate to help fund Shea’s funeral, which will be held this Thursday (April 22) at 11am at St. Mary’s Church (611 20th Avenue South, Seattle), with a wake afterwards at the Glen Acres Golf Course (call Mick Kelly’s for more details: 206-246-2473).

Also, here are other ways to help Dermot and his family out:

• Donate using PayPal: Click on “Send Money” and insert this email address: inmemoryofsheaconorowens@gmail.com

To make a cash or check donation, you may do so in person at:

• Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in Burien
• Mick Kelly’s at Full Throttle Bar & Grill in Renton
• A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub in Renton
• The Celtic Swell Pub & Restaurant on Alki in West Seattle

Donations will be used to pay for Shea’s service as well as for the Father’s time off from work. You can donate at any Key Bank location.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the memorial by Scott Schaefer (be sure your speakers are turned on):

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s SoundSlideshow

A high-speed, one-car accident sent a car flying into a tree and closed the s-curve of Ambaum Blvd. SW in Burien near Salmon Creek Monday night.

BTB Reporter Gina Bourdage, who was on scene shortly after the crash, reports that a red Dodge sedan traveling at high speeds struck a jersey barrier on the west side of Ambaum near SW 118th. According to police, the car then flew “Dukes of Hazzard”-style up in the air, high enough (initial reports are 20-25 feet) to clear a speed limit sign. After flying for 80-100 feet, the car struck a tree and landed, leaving its hood stuck in the tree.

A male and female passenger were taken by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Their identities and condition is not known at this time.

Police have shut down Ambaum Blvd. SW between SW 128th and SW 116th for at least three more hours, until at least midnight.

The cause of the crash is not known, and investigators were still on the scene at 10pm Monday.

Here are photos shot at the scene by Jack Tucci:

by Scott Schaefer

You may remember Jeff Kearney, the mentally-challenged man who was the victim of a hit-and-run crime last November at a marked crosswalk on 16th SW and SW 106th  in White Center (read our previous coverage here).

Jeff was recently discharged from Burien Nursing and Rehab, where he had been staying for the last several weeks after spending time at both Harborview and Highline Medical Center.

He is now recuperating at his home, and Burien Rehab Director Nate Neff sent us this email update:

Scott –

I just wanted to give you a quick update.

Jeff Kearney went home yesterday.

He had been wanting to go home for several days and had been vocalizing it. He has made quite the journey from his tragic accident. While here his feeding tube was removed and he began eating on his own, his cognition cleared up and he was able to clearly speak his needs and wants. Also, his strength increased greatly and he became able to propel himself in his wheelchair. He is still planning on getting some more rehab at home but Jeff was ready to go home.

We wish him the best of luck and are grateful for the opportunity to care for him.

- Nate

On Friday (Feb. 12th), we caught up with Jeff in person at the Mark Restaurant and Bar in Burien, where we found him enjoying a Roy Rogers drink, courtesy his good friend and Discover Burien Events Supervisor Debra George.

Jeff sat at a table near the bar, with his blue protective helmet sitting in a chair nearby.

We spoke with him for a few moments, mostly small talk, and noticed that his old, familiar smile was still there. We asked him how he was feeling, what he was doing, and his face lit up on the occasions we mentioned various women he knew and the hugs he associates with them. While a bit slow to respond, Jeff seemed keenly intent on resuming his work, as well as the numerous relationships with many locals, and it was an uplifting experience to see, especially considering how terribly he was struck and injured (reports say the SUV/truck that hit him was going around 35mph).

Debra George reminded us though that Jeff still needs help walking, but is getting stronger with each day.

This man has come a long way, but he still has a way to go, and we wish him the best. We have a feeling that by the time the Burien Farmer’s Market opens again in May that he’ll be back to his old self.

Sadly, the hit-and-run driver is apparently still at large. A $1,000 reward remains in effect, and the investigation is continuing.

The suspect vehicle, which struck Jeff in a crosswalk on 16th SW and SW 106th in White Center, had damage to the left front fender, and lost its driver’s side exterior rear-view mirror at the scene. It is probably maroon in color, a Chevrolet or GMC product, and is likely one of the following models:

• GM or Chevrolet full size pick-up: 1988-1989
• Blazer or Jimmy: 1992-1994
• Suburban: 1992-1999
• GMC Yukon: 1992-1999
• Chevrolet Tahoe: 1995-1999

If you recognize the suspect vehicle or have any leads, please call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

And if you wish to visit Jeff or send him your wishes, feel free to contact Debra George at the Mark Restaurant in Burien: (206) 241-MARK.

A hit-and-run rampage happened Monday night around 7:45pm in White Center when a van struck at least four different vehicles before fleeing to Burien.

The crime occurred at the intersection of 4th Ave SW and SW Roxbury before the driver drove off and later abandoned his van in Burien.

According to Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department:

There was a H & R accident at 4th & Roxbury last night about 7:45 PM.

The driver of the other car was taken to Harborview with non-life threatening injuries.

The suspect vehicle took off striking a car, (causing considerable damage) at Olson & Myers Way, then continuing southbound.

My understanding is that other cars were hit as well as it drove on.

The suspect car finally pulled into a random driveway at SW 130th and 8th Ave South.

The driver and two passengers fled on foot and could not be located, even with a K-9 dog.

The suspect vehicle was a 2000 Toyota Siena.

The hit and run driver is still at large, and the reasoning for the crime is still undetermined.

UPDATE Thursday 2/4/10: We just received word from Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department that the driver of the smashed-up Kia (pictured, left) involved in Wednesday’s 3-car crash at the intersection of First Ave South and SW 112th has died at Harborview Medical Center.

He was a 49 year-old Burien man, and his identity has not yet been released by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Click here to read our previous coverage, including photos shot at the scene.

A major three-car, high speed accident closed the intersection of First Ave South and SW 112th early Wednesday morning (Feb. 3rd).

According to Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department, the accident occurred around 6:45am when two cars (a Kia and a white Toyota pickup truck) were stopped at a red light in front of The Barrel Tavern.

Soon, a red Chevrolet pickup barreled into both of them, nearly destroying the small Kia (see photo slideshow below). The Chevy truck ended up over an embankment in a neighboring house’s backyard.

The driver of the Kia was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. It appeared that the airbags in the Kia had deployed, and scattered amongst the crash debris was a hat and an iron.

The other two drivers and a passenger from the Kia were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries, or for observation.

Scott Schaefer was on scene around 8:45am to take these photos, as Investigators worked amidst the strewn crash debris at the closed intersection:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

Here’s a video report from KING5.com:

Here’s the latest update on Jeff Kearney, the well-known mentally-challenged man who was the victim of a hit-and-run two weeks ago (original story here) in White Center.

According to Debra George, who saw him at Harborview and brought over a dozen gifts left by well-wishers for his 37th birthday last Saturday:

“He is breathing on his own, but still has pneumonia and is in ICU for that.

He opens his eyes more now and is tracking some, but does not take in any information. The nurses say that it could be years for him to recover and the extent of his recovery is still unknown.

The Nurses have given Jeff a very nice looking goatee shave.

Nothing yet as I know on the driver who did this to him.

Scott, a wonderful thing that happen last Wednesday when I was visiting Jeff – a box arrived from the Seattle Mariners, filled with all kinds of gift items and a signed card by no less than 25 Mariners employees – they all signed something personal as if they all knew him and were all rooting for him. This was not provoked by anyone I know of – just a wonderful thing they did!”

We checked in with Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department, who says that the hit-and-run driver is still at large and the investigation is continuing. The suspect vehicle had damage to the left front fender, and lost its driver’s side exterior rear-view mirror at the scene. It is probably maroon in color, a Chevrolet or GMC product, and is likely one of the following models:

• GM or Chevrolet full size pick-up: 1988-1989
• Blazer or Jimmy: 1992-1994
• Suburban: 1992-1999
• GMC Yukon: 1992-1999
• Chevrolet Tahoe: 1995-1999

If anyone recognizes the suspect vehicle they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• An Update On Hit & Run Victim Jeff Kearney
• UPDATE: Police Seeking Help In Finding Vehicle In Hit-And-Run Of Well-Known Local Man

Tuesday morning (Nov. 24th), we spoke with Debra George, who managed Jeff Kearney as part of Discover Burien’s “Team Clean Sweep.” Jeff is the victim of a hit and run in White Center that happened last Tuesday (Nov. 17th) at the intersection of 16th SW and SW 106th.

Debra recently visited Jeff at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he is still in serious condition.

“I feel very positive after seeing him,” Debra said. “I saw him move his shoulder and grimace in pain at one point, which is a great sign actually – it shows that he is responsive, which is a relief. And as I was leaving, I said out loud: ‘Okay Jeff, I’m going now, so you’d better give me a hug!’ and he actually moved his shoulders.”

Debra gave us more details on Jeff’s current condition:

• He’s still in Intensive Care at Harborview in serious condition.
• He’s been taken off the drug-induced coma but has net yet awakened.
• However, he has shown movement in both his arms and legs, which is a good sign.
• He’s currently on a respirator because he has contracted pneumonia since being admitted.
• He has fractures in his pelvis and hip, as well as severe injuries to his jaw, which may actually be broken.

As we reported last week, Kearney, 36, well-known in Burien as part of “Team Clean Sweep,” was crossing 16th Ave SW in the crosswalk at SW 106th in White Center on Tuesday, Nov. 17th around 5:20pm when a vehicle heading southbound on 16th struck him.

Jeff’s legal guardian, Mike Lindorff, apparently didn’t know about the accident until around 8:30pm that night, when he began to get worried that Jeff hadn’t yet returned home. Apparently Jeff was not wearing his usual ID dog tags when he was hit, so he was admitted to Harborview as an unidentified “John Doe” until Mike found out what happened.

Debra spoke to a nurse at Harborview, who told her it could “take a week” or so before Jeff wakes up on his own and gives them a chance to fully analyze his condition.

Jeff’s 37th birthday just happens to be this Saturday, Nov. 28th, and anyone who wishes to send gifts or cards should drop them off at The Mark Restaurant, located at 918 SW 152nd in Olde Burien before closing time Friday night (Nov. 27th); Debra George will then personally deliver them to Jeff.

According to Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department,”we have not located the suspect vehicle or driver. We still want tips from the public. The vehicle has damage that is specific and significant enough that someone should recognize it.”

Police are still looking for a maroon-colored Chevrolet or GMC SUV/truck that’s missing an exterior side rear-view mirror (and possibly has other front-end damage), and is likely one of the following models:

• GM or Chevrolet full size pick-up: 1988-1989
• Blazer or Jimmy: 1992-1994
• Suburban: 1992-1999
• GMC Yukon: 1992-1999
• Chevrolet Tahoe: 1995-1999

If anyone recognizes the suspect vehicle they are asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

We here at The B-Town Blog continue to send positive vibes and prayers to Jeff. We are all feeling more positive after speaking with Debra, and are currently visualizing a huge “Welcome Back” party to celebrate a healthy and full recovery for him soon, where we’ll all hug him and tell him how our spouses, children, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers are doing.

A King County Sheriff’s deputy who was speeding toward a burglary call in White Center was seriously injured in a rollover crash early Friday morning as he lost control of his vehicle on Des Moines Memorial Way near 17th Place South.

According to the report, the officer was racing to a burglary call around 2:15am when he lost control of the car and rolled down a 20-foot embankment in the 10000 block of Des Moines Memorial Way. When the deputy’s car went off the roadway it took down a part of a cyclone fence along the edge of the sidewalk. One of the fence rails went through the vehicle windshield and impaled the shoulder harness the deputy was wearing. The harness ended up around the deputy’s neck and he was unconscious when found.

The deputy, age 30, has been with the Sheriff’s Office, working for the city of Burien for just over 1½ years. His identity has not yet been released.

Three residents nearby ran to the accident after hearing the crash, and a passing deputy in route to the same White Center call stopped. They were able to pull out the smashed windshield and pole, likely saving the life of the deputy.

It took the fire department about ½ hour to extradite the deputy from his vehicle, and they had to cut off the top of the car to do so. He was taken to Harborview Hospital and is in serious but stable condition.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

1/6/09 9pm UPDATE: We just communicated with Faraz Lakhani, the victim of Tuesday afternoon’s hit and run, who reports that the suspect was captured within the hour by police (it doesn’t help to have your license plate fall off).

Faraz, who works at the Subway sandwich shop on 16th SW, sent us the following first-hand report:

I am really thankful to have walked out from the sunroof of my car unscathed except for a minuscule cut on my hand. It sure was my lucky day today – ‘cos the accident looks like the driver would have been hurt much worse.

The police did find the hit and run driver within the hour. He was a 72 year old man with a suspended drivers license and no insurance I decided not to prosecute and they will just be charging him for driving without a license.

I was just really shaken as my car flew and rolled before it landed on its side.

The car is going to be a total loss but I have reason to be thankful I came away unhurt!

I really appreciate your efforts to help get the hit and run driver.

PREVIOUSLY: At approximately 2:25pm Tuesday afternoon (1/6/09), our intrepid “on-the-street” Reporters Mark Neuman and Bart Bryan witnessed the immediate aftermath of a hit and run accident at the intersection of SW 104th and 16th Ave SW in White Center.

The BMW on its side above was headed northbound on 16th when it was t-boned on the driver’s side, knocking it onto its side, by a black Hyundai Accent, Washington license plate #735 VJT, which left the scene, classifying it as a definite hit and run.

Below are more photos taken at the scene, including the license plate, which fell off the suspect’s vehicle and was discovered by Neuman and Bryan.

If you have any information on this car or its owner, you are encouraged to call the King County Sheriff’s office immediately at (206) 296-3333 or 296-3323.

The opening of Sea-Tac’s third runway has inspired a lot of discussion, both good and bad, and our sister site The B-Town Blog is commemorating something that happened on the original runway 61 years ago today (Nov. 30, 1947) – a tragic airplane crash that killed nine and injured 17.

Read the full story here.

We took this photo a few months ago when we were first doing mockups of this here White Center Blog, found it again and thought it was worth posting – this was a memorial, perhaps for a fallen motorcyclist, that was set up near a crosswalk island on 16th Ave SW near SW 104th: