A five-year-old girl fell from the sixth floor window in Seattle and is in critical condition. The Seattle Mariners begin a crucial series against the Rangers without their leader J.P. Crawford due to injury. Off the coast of Washington, a DHC-3 Otter seaplane crashed, but all 11 people were saved thanks to bystanders and the Coast Guard.
Seattle Tragedy: A Five-Year-Old Girl Fell From a Sixth-Floor Window
A five-year-old girl is in critical condition after falling from the sixth-floor window of her apartment on Friday morning in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood. The child was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she is now in the intensive care unit in serious condition, a hospital spokesperson, Susan Gregg, said. Seattle police detective Bryan Pritchard said in an email that it was a “tragic accident” and “no crime was committed.”
The incident occurred at about 11:02 a.m., after someone called 911 and reported that a child had fallen from an upper-floor window of a building at the intersection of South 34th Avenue and South Charleston Street—about one block east of South Rainier Avenue. Upon arrival, police and firefighters found the girl with a “head injury,” Pritchard reported. Firefighters provided first aid and transported her to the hospital, according to Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Grace Nunez.
Investigators found that the girl “broke through” a screen on an open window and fell from six stories to the ground. At the time, two family members were in the apartment. According to information published by The Seattle Times, the family will not face criminal liability, since the incident has been ruled an accident.
Unfortunately, incidents like this are not uncommon: young children often don’t understand the danger and may lean against a window screen that is not designed to support a child’s weight. Safety experts remind people that even plastic screens can tear under pressure, and strongly recommend installing window security stops that prevent the sash from opening more than 10–15 centimeters. In this case, the investigation found no signs of a defective window structure or adult negligence—the tragedy occurred due to a sudden convergence of circumstances. Doctors are now fighting for the girl’s life, and police continue to support the family.
Without Crawford, the Mariners Face the Rangers in a Must-Win Series
The Seattle Mariners are heading into one of the season’s most important stretches, but they’re doing it without their starting shortstop and offensive leader. On Friday in Texas, a four-game series begins that will effectively decide the American League West standings for the coming week. The Mariners (51 wins, 52 losses) trail the Rangers (51–51) by just half a game, and the stakes are as high as they can be. But J.P. Crawford was not in the starting lineup—this is already the fourth consecutive game he’s missing due to a wrist injury suffered during batting practice on Monday.
As reported by Seattle Sports insider Shannon Drayer, Crawford did not make the injury list and is likely to return soon. Still, the coaching staff decided not to include him even on the bench—one theory is that it has to do with Texas left-handed starting pitcher Mackenzie Gore. Against lefties this season, Crawford’s production is modest: his slugging is only .282, and his OPS is .666. That means he rarely hits extra bases and is not as effective as he is versus right-handers. In his place at third base is Weston Wilson, and the leadoff role goes to outfielder Randy Arozarena.
The lineup also includes Mitch Garver as the designated hitter. Notably, on the road against left-handers since moving to the Mariners in 2024, Garver has put up solid numbers: a .264 batting average, a .355 on-base percentage, and a .423 slugging percentage. His OPS over that span is .778, and his adjusted wRC+ is 120—about 20% more productive than the average hitter in the league. That matters, since Garver is typically a reserve catcher.
On the mound for Seattle will be Texas native Bryce Miller, who has been pitching the best baseball of his career lately. Over his 11 outings this season, his ERA is 2.27 and his WHIP is 0.88. That means he rarely allows opponents to reach base—he gives up fewer than one hit or walk per inning, on average. His strikeout numbers are also impressive (10.1 per 9 innings), as is his strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.10). For the Mariners, that’s good news given the weakening of their defense without Crawford.
Game 1 of this series—one that could become a turning point for both teams—is scheduled for Friday at 5:05 p.m. local time. Mariners fans can watch the live broadcast on Seattle Sports. Insiders note that Crawford is likely to return to the lineup within the next few days, but for now the team will have to rely on its depth. As reported in the original article, the decision may be tactical: Crawford, a left-hander, against Gore, also a left-hander, is not an ideal matchup—so the team holds him in reserve for a more favorable moment.
Susia Island Seaplane Crash: Rescue Thanks to Quick Action From Bystanders
On the evening of August 3, a DHC-3 Otter seaplane with 11 people on board crashed off the coast of Washington, but tragedy was avoided: all passengers and the pilot were rescued thanks to the immediate response of nearby boats and an arriving Coast Guard helicopter. The aircraft—operating for Kenmore Air—crashed onto the rocky shore of the uninhabited island of Susia and caught fire, but the people managed to get out of the cabin before flames reached the fuselage. According to AP News, the injured received a range of injuries—from cuts and fractures to traumatic brain injuries—but by Friday morning at least five people had been discharged from hospitals, and a patient who had previously been in critical condition stabilized.
The circumstances of the crash have not been established yet, but bystander videos posted to social media show the aircraft suddenly banking on its side, clipping the water with one float, bouncing up, and then hitting land. The pilot and 10 passengers exited the plane as black smoke was already rising and orange flames were consuming the tail section. Dave Eastman, who was on a nearby boat at the time, said he first feared the plane would crash into his vessel, but then saw it flying low toward the island. He noted that the weather in the area suddenly deteriorated—thunderstorms with lightning began, and right as the plane was burning, heavy rain came pouring down, but it’s unclear whether that is connected to the accident.
Susia Island is an uninhabited state park carved with bays and rocky headlands, popular with tourists on yachts. The crash occurred near Shallow Bay, where several sailboats and sightseeing boats were moored. Hearing the Coast Guard’s emergency radio call, these “good Samaritans” rushed to the crash site. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter, and Canadian partners sent a hovercraft. Working together, they evacuated everyone before the fire destroyed the cabin.
The DHC-3 Otter is a legendary Canadian “workhorse” aircraft used for decades to transport people in remote areas. Exactly this type of plane crashed in 2022 in the Puget Sound strait northwest of Seattle, killing 10 people. That time, the cause was a failure of a single component in a critical flight-control system, after which regulators ordered special inspections of all similar aircraft. The current crash, involving the same aircraft type but a different operator, once again highlights safety concerns around “Otters.”
Aviation safety expert John Cox said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) could quickly receive preliminary data because the surviving pilot and witnesses are available for interviews, and videos from the scene are already available. The aircraft took off from Seattle’s Lake Union and was headed to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, a popular resort with a historic hotel and marina. According to Flightradar24, three minutes before the crash the aircraft made a sharp 180-degree turn, returning to the island it had just passed. Investigators will determine why the pilot changed course.
Even though everyone survived, the incident raises questions again about the reliability of older aircraft and the importance of preparedness by random witnesses to take emergency action. Authorities and Kenmore Air itself—America’s largest seaplane operator—declined to speculate about the cause until official results are released. A preliminary NTSB report is expected in about a month, and a final conclusion won’t come until at least a year from now. Still, it’s already clear: the rescue was possible because of a rare convergence of circumstances—the presence of many boats, quick coordination by the Coast Guard, and the fact that the plane went down not out in open water, but near a populated yacht mooring. This case is both a reminder of the vulnerability of small aviation and an example of how human mutual aid can prevent the worst.
