UPDATE: 1 killed in SB I-5 crash before West Seattle Bridge exit

5:30 PM: If you have yet to head this way out of downtown or points north,, don’t take southbound I-5. A crash has closed the two right lanes just before the West Seattle Bridge (including the offramp to the bridge), and according to the State Patrol, it’s a deadly crash involving a motorcycle, so the closures will likely continue for quite some time. No other details yet.

5:51 PM: WSDOT tweets that the ramp has reopened. Still a big backup, though.

6:51 PM: Commenter says the ramp is NOT open. Meantime, the State Patrol says the investigation is continuing:

Troopers are still investigating a fatal collision SB 5 @ WSF. Slow down and be patient. -Trp Yarbrough pic.twitter.com/DmuRPG74EU

— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) July 4, 2017

7:18 PM: WSDOT says all lanes are open. If there is any further information about the crash later from the WSP, we’ll add it here.

10:45 PM: WSP says the motorcycle rider, a 45-year-old Bellevue man, was “traveling at a high rate and in and out of traffic” and hit a car driven by a 47-year-old Seattle woman. He died at the scene. She was not hurt.

Laura July 3, 2017 (6:42 pm)

Ramp still isn’t open, FYI.

WSB July 3, 2017 (6:50 pm)

The investigation continues but WSDOT tweeted that it was open. Only as good as the info we get.

Julia July 3, 2017 (7:12 pm)

Ramp is open, no investigation or police activity anymore.

Joe July 3, 2017 (9:40 pm)

Bad area. I drove I5 south to the WS exit for 17 years. From I 90 west, it dumps you into the far right exit only lane of I5 south. A lot of last minute lane changes across the gore point (illegal). Semis and other vehicles pushing their way over across 2 + lanes with just feet to spare (oblivious to who is already legally in the exit lane) when they could just take the next exit. Even driving defensively, I’ve had some close calls when I was already in the right lane. Traffic usually crawling at the time of the accident today. Looks to have been moving fast based on impact. RIP

Coldheart Craig July 4, 2017 (12:16 am)

Really sad – I looked the guy up on facebook and he was joking about ‘squid life’ while riding recklessly back in may, which in motorcycle parlance means someone that rides in shorts and a t-shirt thinking they’re indestructible. He had shared some links to some protective gear about 12 hours ago, sounds like he never got a chance to use it.

Rs24 July 4, 2017 (3:03 am)

Tough little stretch of there with drivers from I90 forced to merge with those trying to get to the WSB exit. Have some patience and let people in.. in the grand scheme of things you’re not getting to wherever you’re going significantly faster than the next driver. It’s not worth dying over.

Ron D. July 4, 2017 (7:20 am)

the motorcycle rider, a 45-year-old Bellevue man, was “traveling at a high rate and in and out of traffic”

Doesn’t really sound like a traffic merging issue to me. I can only hope that this person’s careless recklessness (paid for with his life) doesn’t also adversely affect the lives of anyone else who was involved in this senseless incident.

Colleen M Kinerk July 4, 2017 (5:33 pm)

Rondi, I’m the driver he hit, and I’m fine. No one else was hurt, and he died instantly, thankfully. A couple of kids witnessed it, as well as others, of course. They probably got the worse end of it than me, I didn’t see it straight. on. Other witnesses said he was going REALLY fast, and by the looks of my van and the impact I felt, I’d agree. It’s really unfortunate.
- WSB July 4, 2017 (6:03 pm)
  
  Thank you for commenting here and letting people know how you’re doing.
  
  Meantime, for those who mentioned this morning’s crash – which we didn’t cover as we skip traffic coverage on holidays unless there is something big in WS or on the bridge – the State Patrol media one-sheet is now in. The rider who died was a 29-year-old Monroe man; the circumstances are as described by a commenter earlier, and no one else was reported injured, including the 47-year-old Seattle man whose car the originally SB rider landed on in the NB HOV lane. – TR

Swede. July 4, 2017 (10:44 am)

And then another died there this morning too.

Scooterista July 4, 2017 (11:03 am)

And it sounds like there was another fatal motorcycle crash in the same area this morning?

WSB July 4, 2017 (11:13 am)

That was NB I-5 at I-90. Not far, but other side of the freeway.

Scooterista July 4, 2017 (11:17 am)

Sounds like the rider this morning was SB on I-5 and took the EB I-90 exit too fast, was flung over the barrier and landed on top of a car on NB I-5. Condolences to everyone involved in that grim mess.