ORIGINAL 3:22 PM REPORT: We’ve just confirmed a reader report that West Marginal Way SW is closed at Highland Park Way. Seattle Fire responded to a “med 6” call in the 5900 block, near Alaska Marine Lines, about an hour ago; another reader tells us she drove by the scene and saw a crash that appeared to involve a motorcyclist thrown off her/his bike. We are working to get more information.
3:36 PM UPDATE: Police near the scene confirm to WSB that the motorcyclist did not survive. We don’t know anything about him/her at this point. West Marginal Way is closed in the 4100 block on the north side (at SW Dakota) and at Highland Park Way on the south side.
3:57 PM NOTE: As far as we can tell from our archives, this is the first deadly crash in West Seattle in nine months, since September 2011, when 53-year-old Bradly Gilmore of Olalla died after swerving his motorcycle to avoid a car on the WS Bridge. We don’t know anything about the circumstances of today’s crash yet.
6:46 PM: Road was still closed when we went by about half an hour ago, though a commenter says some prep has been under way to reopen it – we’ll check back again around 8 but please let us know (in comments or editor@westseattleblog.com) if you see it open again before that.
7:10 PM: SPD Blotter has now published information on the crash, saying witnesses reported the motorcycle appeared to have been “racing” with a black car, but they haven’t yet found that car:
On 6/24/12, witnesses stated that at approximately 2:00 p.m., a motorcyclist and a black car were racing northbound on West Marginal Way.
The motorcyclist either failed to negotiate the curve or was forced off the road by the car. The motorcyclist died instantly after hitting a light pole. The search for the car is ongoing and there are no suspects at this time.
Suspect Vehicle: Black import car with tinted windows, two hood scoops, and a rear spoiler.
Anyone with information about this incident or the above described vehicle is asked to call 911.
This is an active and on-going case. No additional information is available at this time.
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