(TOPLINE, 3:56 PM: New information from police; motorcyclist reported to be in serious condition – details below
7:20 AM: Thanks to everyone for the texts/calls – at least two lanes are blocked on the eastbound high bridge because of what multiple reports say is a motorcycle crash. The latest traffic cams are here.
7:43 AM UPDATE: We’ve added a “live” image from one of the bridge cams above (refresh the page for the latest). And now there’s a separate incident: The ramp from Delridge has a medic response – reported to be a woman in labor.
7:50 AM UPDATE: The situation on the high-rise is NOT likely to clear any time soon. Scanner indicates that the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is being called in, as the motorcyclist is reported to have “critical” injuries. Their work usually takes a few hours. If you are headed downtown or further north, 1st Avenue South Bridge or low West Seattle Bridge might be better options.
8:18 AM UPDATE: We’re checking the feeder routes. 35th SW northbound currently backed up to The Mount.
8:47 AM UPDATE: Anecdotal reports via Twitter and Facebook indicate that while, as you can see in the “live” image above, those two right lanes are still blocked, the rest of the flow is moving more smoothly. We also have a report from Alex, who got downtown in half an hour by detouring from Morgan Junction to Roxbury to 509 to 99 – if you aren’t familiar with that route, it’s worth exploring someday when you’re not under “get to work” pressure, so you know it for future reference.
9:12 AM UPDATE: Thanks to the WSB’er who shared that video of the investigation on the bridge shoulder as the 125 bus went by. We’ll continue to update this story till the lanes clear (you can refresh to see the latest version of the “live” bridge cam image above, too – those are investigation vehicles in the right lanes right now).
9:27 AM UPDATE: Investigators have cleared the scene and all bridge lanes are now open. We are following up to see what we can find out about the crash victim (and also about the woman in labor from the Delridge ramp). *added* SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore says the motorcyclist is a man in his mid-50s and was taken to the hospital in “serious” condition; he says the woman is in her late 20s and did not deliver at roadside – she was taken to a hospital.
3:56 PM UPDATE: Police have now released more details via SPD Blotter, saying the motorcyclist crashed while trying to avoid getting hit by a car:
On September 27th, at approximately 6:53 am, a 1998 BMW driven by a 47 year old female was travelling eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge in the far left lane, on the downhill grade approaching the northbound SR-99 exit. The BMW was attempting to change lanes when the BMW nearly collided with a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle that was also travelling eastbound in the “Bus Only” lane. The 53 year old male motorcycle rider took evasive action by applying heavy rear-braking which caused the rear wheel of the motorcycle to lock. The motorcycle continued skidding its rear wheel for a considerable distance until it lost control.
The motorcyclist suffered head and facial injuries and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. The driver of the BMW was screened for impairment, but it was determined that the driver was not impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) responded and processed the scene. They will continue to follow up on this investigation.
| 100 COMMENTS