Seattle authorities have taken into custody a man previously charged in a deadly downtown taxi collision, nearly two years after the incident. Aboubacarr Singhateh, 27, was re-arrested by the Seattle Police Department following the completion of court-mandated treatment that addressed his competency to stand trial.
Singhateh is now booked into the King County Jail, marking a significant step forward in the judicial process for the May 2024 crash that claimed the life of 74-year-old Suzanne Blake and severely injured three other passengers.
Judicial Proceedings Advance in Fatal Downtown Incident
The re-arrest of Singhateh on Friday, June 5, 2026, comes after a period where he had been deemed incompetent to participate in his own defense. A prior ruling by the King County Superior Court had halted proceedings, mandating treatment to restore his competency. With that phase now complete, the case is poised to move forward.
King County prosecutors initially brought charges against Singhateh in the aftermath of the collision. His booking into the correctional facility signifies the recommencement of the legal journey, which seeks accountability for the tragic event that unfolded on a busy Seattle thoroughfare.
Tragic Details of the May 2024 Collision
The incident on May 23, 2024, unfolded near the intersection of Fourth Avenue South and South Washington Street, a vital artery through downtown Seattle. According to records from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Singhateh was allegedly driving a 2011 Ford F-150 at excessive speeds, reportedly nearly doubling the 25-mile-per-hour limit on Fourth Avenue.
The truck violently rear-ended a taxicab carrying four elderly passengers, all in their 70s. Court documents indicate the Ford F-150 was at full acceleration moments before impact, a force so severe it propelled the taxi an astonishing 150 feet forward.
Victims and Injuries Suffered
The consequences of the collision were devastating:
- Suzanne Blake, 74, a passenger in the taxi, sustained “catastrophic” injuries and tragically died later the same day.
- Three other taxi passengers, all in their 70s, suffered a range of serious injuries including:
- Broken ribs
- Significant head trauma
- A broken pelvis
- One of the surviving passengers required a life-saving surgical procedure due to the severity of their injuries.
Driver’s Background and Contributing Factors
Further details emerging from the initial investigation revealed that Singhateh, reportedly from Mill Creek, was operating the vehicle without a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash. The registered owner of the Ford F-150 was present in the passenger seat during the incident, a detail that may become relevant as the case progresses through the King County judicial system.
