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Update: Deadly motorcycle crash on West Marginal Way; car sought

June 24, 2012 3:22 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

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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32 Replies to "Update: Deadly motorcycle crash on West Marginal Way; car sought"

  • justme June 24, 2012 (5:02 pm)

    These are always especially sad to hear when someone was just out having fun. Such a sudden/shocking way to go.

  • West Seattle Since 1979 June 24, 2012 (5:16 pm)

    So sad.

  • West Seattleite June 24, 2012 (5:47 pm)

    Sad.

  • lt fd June 24, 2012 (5:52 pm)

    Fire Department is returning to the scene now, following completion of SPD’s Traffic Collision Investigation data gathering. It is time to clean-up the scene and prepare the roadway & bike path for reopening.

    • WSB June 24, 2012 (6:42 pm)

      Thanks, Lt… we went by around 6:10 and it was still closed, planning to check again in another hour and a half or so but if anyone sees it reopened sooner, please let us know so we can update – TR

  • K June 24, 2012 (5:54 pm)

    Very sad. And still closed at 5:54pm.

  • smokeycretin9 June 24, 2012 (6:22 pm)

    Godspeed fellow rider. :(

  • MB June 24, 2012 (7:23 pm)

    RIP. Hopefully whoever else was involved has a conscious and comes forward. They can’t be oblivious that this has happened.

  • K June 24, 2012 (7:27 pm)

    Open at 7:27.

  • Harold Reems June 24, 2012 (8:12 pm)

    Just awful news, RIP to the motorcyclist.

  • Zx6r rider June 25, 2012 (12:39 am)

    Its sad to see a death but when will people learn racing is dangerous. One of my friends saw him fly by and came onto the scene and thank god his little kid did not see the it. Please take it to the track. Thank god no innocent bystanders got hurt.

  • scubafrog June 25, 2012 (1:10 am)

    I’m glad no innocent parties were injured.

    We see this daily on Alki. It was rampant today. We’re tired of it.

    I remember several years ago a motorcycle that was racing on Alki hit and killed a small child.

  • MB June 25, 2012 (1:24 am)

    Conscience**

  • Amy Thomson June 25, 2012 (6:34 am)

    Our house overlooks West Marginal Way, and we hear the shriek of engines from racing cars once a week or more, usually at night. We have to use West Marginal to get anywhere. I live in terror of getting T-boned by one of these maniacs as we pull out of our street. Sure it looks like an empty road, but people do live off of it, and it has a couple of tricky blind spots. Drive carefully, please.

  • Kgdlg June 25, 2012 (6:53 am)

    RIP
    Wasnt a gatewood woman killed on a motorcycle on the bridge a couple months ago? I hate motorcycles!

  • Wetone June 25, 2012 (11:03 am)

    Very sad, that corner has taken a few lives as it comes up quick at high speeds.

  • Joel June 25, 2012 (3:40 pm)

    don’t live far from there….the Port Police are usually hidden getting the 10 mph over the speed limit people but never seem to be around when the motorcycles are racing and popping wheelies flying and up and down the road

    at least no innocent lives were lost

    • WSB June 25, 2012 (3:55 pm)

      Regarding “innocent lives” – please note that while police say witnesses reported the motorcycle appearing to be racing, and racing is against the law, that didn’t mean he/she (we’re still awaiting ID) deserved to die.

  • matt June 25, 2012 (3:40 pm)

    We were riding our bikes and were there right after it happened, saw two motorcycles go by and no one racing!! There was a black suv stopped at the scene. And we got pictures of the guy he looked to be an older guy with grey hair.

  • La neta June 25, 2012 (5:46 pm)

    Well said WSB. The victim is someone’s loved one. What a tragedy.

  • datamuse June 25, 2012 (6:58 pm)

    Thank you, WSB.

  • totos June 25, 2012 (11:38 pm)

    The victim is former Tukwila City Councilmember Dave Fenton.

    http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2012/06/motorcyclist-killed-in-west-seattle-identified/

    • WSB June 25, 2012 (11:48 pm)

      Thanks, Totos. I checked out the daily list of Medical Examiner cases – but they don’t include specific information such as “killed in motorcycle crash,” and while the cause of death (the hotline is fairly graphic) listed for the person with that name sounded like this kind of incident, I couldn’t verify that was actually the victim and had hoped to do so tomorrow. – TR

  • Monica Fenton Manthey June 26, 2012 (3:51 am)

    This is tragic and my heart is broken. Dave Fenton is my father and he was the victim of this terrible fatal accident. My heart aches and I still can’t believe he is gone. He loved riding his Harley on beautiful sunny days and Sunday was one of those rare delights. He was 67, a trained rider both participant and advocate of offered safety courses for ALL bikers. He LOVED to ride Alki and on a beautiful sunny day he was doing what he loved. There is more to this story and investigation. We will have a celebration of life ceremony on Sunday July 1.

    • WSB June 26, 2012 (7:44 am)

      Ms. Manthey – I am so sorry for your loss. Overnight, I published a separate story with the news that your father was the victim. Thank you for taking the time to comment here – TR

  • miws June 26, 2012 (8:28 am)

    Condolences to you and your family, Monica.

    .

    Please know that despite a few insensitive comments here, that West Seattle, by and large, is made up of wonderful, caring people with good hearts, and even if only a fraction that read this tragic story post comments here, they understand, and feel your loss.

    .

    Mike

  • Trileigh June 26, 2012 (9:27 am)

    Ms. Manthey, I am also so sorry for your loss. It’s such a tragedy to lose anyone this way, but especially as fine a person as I’m sure your father was.

  • Chandra June 26, 2012 (9:47 am)

    Monica,

    Deep condolences to you and your family, we and our kids spent nice time with Dave. We are all surprised by this.

    Chandra

  • enviromaven June 26, 2012 (10:13 am)

    Heartfelt condolences to Ms. Manthey and her family. I’m so very sorry for your loss.

  • Kimberly June 26, 2012 (5:52 pm)

    Monica…I am so sorry for your loss! I was right behind them when this happened and I couldn’t believe what i was witnessing! He has been on my mind since this happened and can’t seem to shake it! I hope they find this black vehicle…soon…he definitely saw what happened but took off. I find myself searching for him while driving everywhere I go & if I should spot that car i will be calling 911! Again, so very very very sorry! My dad rides a motorcycle too!

  • Monica Manthey June 26, 2012 (11:36 pm)

    Thank you all for the comments and amazing outpouring of love. Kimberly… As a witness, if you are open to talking with us about what you saw I would greatly appreciate your taking the time to reach out. You can email us at sedro@me.com. Any light you can shed on the accident would help us. My father touched so many lives…many more than i could have ever imagined. Thank you for caring. He will be missed and never replaced.

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