Update: Driver cited, motorcyclist hospitalized after Avalon crash

9:06 PM: Avoid Avalon Way in the Luna Park area for a while – police are investigating a crash that, according to the scanner, involves a car and motorcycle. Scanner traffic indicates the motorcyclist has injuries including broken bones. We’re on our way to the scene to find out more.

9:11 PM: Traffic is blocked on Avalon at Yancy, south of the crash scene.

9:20 PM: The crash happened right by Luna Park Café. We don’t know the circumstances (who hit who and why), but there’s further indication the motorcyclist is expected to recover – the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad, which investigates major crashes, is NOT being called out, and police at the scene tell us that once tow crews get the scene cleared, the street will reopen.

9:48 PM: Police have just announced (via scanner) that Avalon is reopened through the crash scene.

11:31 PM UPDATE: According to Lt. Alan Williams from the Southwest Precinct, the man who was driving the car was cited; Lt. Williams says he “made a left turn in front of the motorcyclist.” He adds there is no indication that alcohol or drugs played any role in the crash.

LyndaB April 30, 2011 (9:09 pm)

Not a headline I have been wanting to see again. Hope this person is ok.

Sj April 30, 2011 (9:19 pm)

Just drove through there – if you exit W Sea bridge at Avalon you get diverted back to Harbor Ave.

austin May 1, 2011 (7:54 am)

This isn’t very surprising, that’s a pretty bad area for drivers not paying attention. It’s nearly impossible to cross Manning during busy times because of the inattentiveness of practically everyone turning either onto or off Avalon.

DF May 1, 2011 (10:28 am)

A quarter mile away at 5pm april 30th cyclist was struck by a motorcyclist aid medics were there her leg wrapped police was taking taking report from her. Slow the down people and stop texting while behind the wheel!! PLEASE~

WSB May 1, 2011 (10:50 am)

DF, there’s nothing within a quarter mile at 5 pm (or any time near that) yesterday. Where did that allegedly happen? And who was allegedly texting, the bicylist or the motorcyclist, and how do you know that?

JTR May 1, 2011 (12:52 pm)

Thanks to all who have been concerned and to the Blog for covering what happened…we, the motorcylists Family, are still in shock and trying to put it all together. He is currently stable in ICU after more than 4hrs of surgery… we will update soon, as the next 48hrs or so is truly critical.
DRIVERS! WE MUST ALL SLOW DOWN AND “SEE” ALL FORMS OF TRAVEL! BIKES & MOTORCYCLES ARE OUT THERE, EVERYWHERE AND YOUR CARELESSNESS COULD KILL SOMEONE!!

DP May 1, 2011 (3:45 pm)

The city REALLY needs to make that intersection safer. I watch near-accidents all the time with drivers racing up to SW Manning Street from Avalon or down from SW Manniing Street to Avalon…and often not stopping at the stop sign by Luna Park. It seems that about 50% of the drivers coming down Manning think that it’s a two lane one way street headed towards Avalon. Then there’s the racers who use Avalon as a speed way…hot rods, bikes…yikes! I didn’t see the actual accident last night, but I did hear the awful thud and watched the aftermath. I give a big salute to the good people from Luna Park Cafe–both employees and customers–who were the first on the scene to call 911 and to help the fallen motorcyclist.

DP May 1, 2011 (3:47 pm)

JTR,
Good to hear! We wish him all the good luck there is to have for a healthy recovery!

PJB May 1, 2011 (4:39 pm)

JTR,
Thanks for the update. I hope he is out of the ICU soon.

DF May 1, 2011 (7:34 pm)

TO WSB
The texting was just an added statement to those doing it in general. I see it all the time on my bicycle.

PULL OVER IF YOU NEED TO TEXT PLEASE

Now. I was cycling from DT yesterday and approaching the (lower bridge) or Spokane St bridge on NE corner beside the bridge on harbor island two fire trucks and a police car one of two cyclists was injured and bandaged up sitting on the curb while a police officer was taking there statement few clicks ahead the biker with Harley Davidson motorcycle with a serious dent in the fender.

amalia May 2, 2011 (10:59 am)

Someone just road-raged me on my bike there yesterday, gunning the engine as I waited for the light at Spokane to change and spinning around me in the intersection. Dope.

anon May 2, 2011 (4:23 pm)

God bless this poor soul. The word is that this man was a very experienced rider wearing proper safety gear. Good on him. Even so, this was a very bad scene. My heart and my prayers go out to him. I am sure that if he had any chance of avoiding this, that he would have had the presence of mind and the skill to do so. He was caught out, for whatever reason, by another motorist.

Please, please think about the consequences of your actions when you are behind the wheel. We are all just people out there trying to do our thing. This guy was just getting a ride in on the first nice day we’ve had all spring. Damn the bad luck!

Riders, keep your heads up. I’ll see you on the road.

WSB May 2, 2011 (4:27 pm)

Anon, fwiw since you mention it, the communication we monitored via scanner between “trauma doc” at Harborview and the crew in the city medic unit did indeed describe him as a “helmeted motorcycle rider.” For whatever medical as well as investigational reason, if you hear those transmissions, they invariably mention whether someone injured in a crash did or did not have a helmet (or seat belts, if in a 4-wheeled vehicle) on. – TR

anon May 2, 2011 (5:15 pm)

While we are at it, first responders coming across a down motorcycle rider should _not_ remove the rider’s helmet unless necessary to clear a breathing obstruction or administer CPR. (I think CPR is no breaths these days anyway.) Professionals will cut the helmet off at an appropriate time (after x-rays) or use an inflatable bladder system for pushing the helmet off the rider’s head evenly and gently. Especially don’t remove the helmet the the rider is complaining of head or neck injury.

From the NIH.gov:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1342401/pdf/jaccidem00002-0052.pdf

The conscious motorcyclist has often removed his own helmet before the emergency services are involved. If not it has been argued that the helmet should be left in place unless ‘it obstructs breathing, if the casualty is vomiting, or if there are severe head injuries’. It has been suggested that the helmet is a useful means of applying traction to, or stabilizing, the neck, and that the helmet should be left in place and ignored until the primary survey, resuscitation and lateral C-spine radiographs have been completed.

This man’s helmet was removed within a few minutes of the accident. He may have done it or someone else might have. I don’t know. In any case, the helmet should not be removed casually. If it’s you who stop first, deal with bleeding and immobilization first. Ignore the helmet unless the situation requires removing it.

BTW, the people who helped this guy before the medics arrived did a fantastic job. You may have saved his life.