Update: Motorcyclist killed in crash under West Seattle Bridge

(Photo by Tony Bradley)
1:36 PM: We’re getting word that a car-motorcycle crash at East Marginal Way South and South Spokane Street (map) involves a fatality. That’s according to Seattle Fire via Twitter; the motorcycle rider was killed, while the car’s 55-year-old driver is being taken to a hospital “as a precaution.” More to come.

(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
4:05 PM: Investigators are still at the scene, so motor vehicles should avoid the area (bike path unaffected).

8:07 PM: Seattle Police have just published an update via SPD Blotter, saying they believe the motorcycle rider, 24 years old, was speeding:

… Preliminary investigation indicates that a 24-year-old man was driving his white Yamaha motorcycle southbound on East Marginal Way South at a high rate of speed and passing vehicles using the bicycle lane. As the motorcyclist approached South Spokane Street he struck a green Isuzu Trooper SUV that had been travelling southbound on East Marginal Way South and was initiating a westbound turn onto South Spokane Street. The force of the collision caused the motorcyclist to be thrown from his motorcycle, and he subsequently sustained fatal injuries.

Fire department medics responded and pronounced the motorcyclist deceased at the scene. King County Medical Examiner’s Office personnel responded and took custody of the deceased man.

The 50-year-old driver of the Isuzu was transported to Harborview Medical Center via ambulance for precautionary reasons. Officers evaluated the driver of the Isuzu for signs of impairment; none were detected. …

The motorcycle rider has not been identified; his name isn’t likely to be made available by the Medical Examiner’s Office before tomorrow.

Jeremy October 22, 2013 (2:05 pm)

Ugh, how awful. Any news on the motorcyclist? I’m afraid to find out it’s someone I know.

GlennS October 22, 2013 (2:18 pm)

Oof. That hits awfully close to home; I came back from lunch between when it happened and when it was posted, and missed the scene by getting back to Harbor Island via PCC Logistics rather than taking Spokane and Klickitat… some folks were rather worried.

Sign me,
rides 300+ days/year..

craig October 22, 2013 (2:42 pm)

I saw it…awful.

Ian October 22, 2013 (3:05 pm)

Anyone know at least what the bike looks like?

Admiral October 22, 2013 (3:26 pm)

2 local news trucks broadcasting in the admiral california intersection, wonder what’s going on there?

WSB October 22, 2013 (3:29 pm)

They’re following up on the arrest of Michael Stanley, since (as noted in our story) police found him in the alley behind Admiral Theater. I’m surprised there’s only two! Would have expected all four. We’d heard they were all combing for “person on street” interviews. – TR

Shannon October 22, 2013 (4:02 pm)

Craig, what happened? @Jeremy and Ian, I always worry too as my boyfriend is a motorcyclist and I hate seeing headlines like this :(

WSEA October 22, 2013 (4:21 pm)

very sad to see another motorcycle accident in the same area as others this year.

BTW: the biker cops directing traffic (or lack thereof) are complete jerks. Rude and unhelpful getting through the area.

Orin October 22, 2013 (5:27 pm)

Reports like this leave an awful lot of information out: It would be useful to know if the motorcyclist had a motorcycle endorsement on his/her license (Police say accident vics usually don’t); likewise, did the motorcyclist’s helmet come off? (An indication the helmet was being worn improperly).

I have a keen interest in this, because I try to advocate for riding scooters and motorcycles safely. Though it is kind of like putting a finger in the dike… : (

__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool

WSB October 22, 2013 (5:45 pm)

Orin, I apologize, but this is truly every shred of information we have – and no way to get anything else. At the sprawled-out scene (taped off way far from the wreckage by the time we got there much later), the investigators were busy doing their work and not there to answer questions. Our photographer didn’t even see the motorcycle, let alone whether there was a helmet at the scene. As noted earlier, SPD Blotter often posts at least some preliminary information once the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad officers leave the scene, so some of this might be available later – or not. And if the name is ever made public, it won’t be before tomorrow afternoon’s Medical Examiner “media hotline” report … TR

Ken S. October 22, 2013 (5:30 pm)

Sad.

I went by on my bike – just a bit after the accident & was checking the blog for news – I figured it probably didn’t end well.

I was riding my bike S. on Marginal when the motorcycle passed me going really, really fast. It didn’t look like he had on a helmet, but it was hard to tell – he was so far up the road.

He swerved to avoid a semi-truck pulling onto Marginal a block or two north of Spokane St, then it looked like he was headed towards crossing Spokane St. with no plans for slowing down.

I wasn’t too surprised to see the accident when I turned onto Spokane St. The car was in bad shape, it looks like the motorcycle took out the passenger-side front quarter-panel & the rider was thrown. It looked like there were a few folks helping out & on cell phones so I kept moving on.

A trucker up the road hopped out of his cab to ask what was going on – I told him what I saw, and that it looked like the rider had a death wish. It’s insane to ride that fast in the city,especially if he didn’t have a helmet….

Nw mama October 22, 2013 (8:53 pm)

Rest in peace. Drive/ ride carefully

Krm66 October 22, 2013 (8:53 pm)

From witnesses it sounds like the rider chose to ride with no regard for anyone else on the road and paid the price. I feel sorry that someone’s family will be getting the news of a loved one lost today. Sounds like this was a totally avoidable event.

Dale October 22, 2013 (10:29 pm)

I am glad we have the WSB. More details of events helps us prevent them and to reconcile how they happened. This was no accident from the sounds of it. Sad? yes, certainly. Not unpredictable if there was speeding. Tragic. I have dealt with fatality loses. When the cause was preventable it is even harder.

Steve October 23, 2013 (7:12 am)

If it’s true that the motorcyclist was driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed then it’s the poor driver of the vehicle involved that I feel sorry for…not the one on the bike.

Jessye October 23, 2013 (8:34 am)

It’s really inappropriate to say that you don’t feel sorry for the motorcyclist who paid the price with his life. We all think we are invincible sometimes and he just made a mistake. He had a family too that had the news of his death told to them last night. Have a little compassion. He was my friend.

:( October 23, 2013 (11:25 am)

Orin, the WSB posts all the information that is available with these cases. They can’t post information that is yet to be available. I’m very sorry for the family of that rider, whether he was speeding or not, it won’t make it any easier on his loved ones that are moving on without him.

Steve October 23, 2013 (11:42 am)

I apologize…I do feel sorry for the person’s family and friends.

Where I’m coming from is that you see it all the time on the roads these days…people driving extremely fast and recklessly with no common sense or regard for their own life or that of others. It’s like they are playing a video game where the possibility of death isn’t even considered. Just hit Restart and play again.

Belle October 23, 2013 (12:08 pm)

He was a great guy. Very kind, very sweet, and very funny. He always knew how to make you laugh. He just had his birthday and had such wonderful things lined up for him in these next couple years. It’s so sad to hear that this happened. I guess I’m still in shock. But I wish people knew what a great guy he was, regardless of this mistake he made that ended up costing him his life. We will miss him.

cowpie October 23, 2013 (3:03 pm)

I ride my bicycle along that same path every day. I’ll be heading home again tonight on that same path. It shocks me that anyone feels they can speed on a motorcycle in the bike lane for the sole purpose of passing other vehicles they feel they shouldn’t have to be behind. I will pray for his family.
I saw the motorcycle on the hooks of the tow truck as I rode by. The front end was missing. Obviously a hard front impact. I didn’t notice the vehicle that ‘legally’ turned right in front of him. Very sad.

Guy October 23, 2013 (8:02 pm)

I wish I knew who this was. So sad, RIP rider!

WSB October 23, 2013 (9:13 pm)

There is only one name on the Medical Examiner’s media recording tonight for someone who died in Seattle yesterday, with the cause of death described in a manner that matches this type of situation, 24-year-old Ethan Kalisek. – TR