A DUI driver crashed through the front wall and windows of lawyer W. Tracy Codd’s office at 611 SW 152nd Street in Burien on Wednesday night, Aug. 5, 2020, causing severe damage.

Thankfully there were no injuries, but Codd says it could’ve been a lot worse.

“If someone was in our office they could’ve really been hurt – or worse,” he told The B-Town Blog. “The car basically destroyed the entire front wall and windows of our office as well as a lot of the furniture.”

When Burien Police arrived they located a vehicle crashed into the building, with heavy damage to the front of the vehicle, as well as to the building and the exterior of the building.

Codd says it all happened around 8 p.m. Wednesday night when a single male driver heading south on 6th Ave SW failed to negotiate turning west on SW 152nd Street. He apparently then lost control and smashed through the front of Codd’s office located on the south side of the street.

The driver told police that he had hit his gas and his car suddenly sped up and crashed.

Police say that the subject appeared intoxicated, with bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, as well as smelling of alcohol.

The driver was arrested for suspected DUI – later blowing nearly twice the legal limit – and was booked into SCORE jail for DUI and reckless driving.

The case has been forwarded to the Burien City Prosecutor for review.

The entire front wall and windows were totally wiped out, and furniture destroyed:

Tracy Codd surveys damage to his Burien office.
Tracy Codd stands on the sidewalk (yes, the sidewalk!) in front of his Burien office at 611 SW 152nd Street, which was severely damaged by a suspected DUI driver on Wednesday night, Aug. 5, 2020.
Ray Helms helps clean up Tracy Codd's office Wednesday night, Aug. 5, 2020.
Ray Helms helps clean up Tracy Codd’s office Wednesday night, Aug. 5, 2020.
Photo courtesy Discover Burien.
Photo courtesy Discover Burien.

“I’m very thankful to Burien Police/King County Sheriff’s Office as to how they handled this incident,” Codd said. “They made a very unstable situation stable. They responded quickly and were very professional.”

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department also helped, and confirmed that the building was secure enough to be boarded up, which was completed by Ray Helms and his son.

“As you can imagine, around 8:30–9 p.m. there are no stores open that carry wood,” Codd said. “Ray worked with his son well into the night securing the premises and boarding things up. I’m very appreciative.”

Tracy is still able to work, as none of his files were damaged or lost.

Codd’s office shares an entrance with Discover Burien – whose offices were not damaged – at 611 SW 152nd Street:

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