26 Replies to "TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday Tuesday watch; deadly crash on 1st Ave. S."

• Gatewood November 21, 2017 (7:36 am)

  I was victim of a hit and run this morning at 6:45ish. Latest model Toyota Prius, black, dark grey, or blue in color. 

  Ran into the back of my pickup with ladder rack, reversed and took off when the light turned green and I pulled into Taco Time.

  Eastbound on Fauntleroy. Stopped at the Faunt/35th red light right before getting onto the WSB, right lane. Just West of the Taco Time parking lot entrance. 

  Police report filed. 

• Also John November 21, 2017 (8:18 am)

  Horrible to hear about a biker being killed.  What an awful tragedy for the bikers family.  I ride in every morning and I just received an email making sure I made it to work safely.

  On these wet dark commutes cars and bikers need to be extra careful.  Cars need to put down their cell phones (yes…your still on them) and pay attention to the road…..bikers need to be even more cautious and keep an eye out on what’s happening around them 360 degrees.     It’s so important to make sure you and your bike can be seen….and that laws are followed.   Make sure your lighting is clearly visible to all cars.  Just this morning at around 6:10am I was going under the viaduct and another biker went against the red light.  He had no lights on his bike, was dressed in dark bike gear with a dark bike….and had his helmet strapped to the side of his bike.  It was a single speed bike with the close grip straight bar.   I believe it was more important for him to look hip than to be safe.

  My thoughts are with the bikers family this morning………….. 

  • WSB November 21, 2017 (8:33 am)

    The first callout for this crash was before 6 am, so there’s no chance this was related. So far we’ve heard it described on the scanner as a hit-and-run – no recent update from SPD so we don’t know if the driver has been found. I am hoping they will add more information via SPD Blotter once the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad clears the scene. – TR

• Brian November 21, 2017 (8:54 am)

  Looking on Google maps you can see that 1st ave south where the accident occurred is a bike sharrowed roadway. However the sharrows are painted in the parking lane, directly adjacent to the curb. What good does that do?! In many cases they are completely covered by parked cars, so are not visible to drivers, thereby reducing their effectiveness. Shouldn’t they be painted adjacent to the parked cars, so they remain visible?

• waikikigirl November 21, 2017 (11:33 am)

  I came upon this tragedy  on my way to work this morning, I work in one of the buildings this happened in front of…sad very sad. Our security cameras picked up the accident and has been turned over to the SPD.  I won’t say what we saw on it, SPD will do their job. I feel bad for the truck driver that came upon it and my heart goes out to the riders family and all involved. 

• Mark November 21, 2017 (11:54 am)

  This is sad.  Bike riding in winter months is inherently less safe due to darkness, rain and drivers not paying attention and poorer visibility.

  We all need to be more aware when driving, bike riders have a right to use the street and need to be given space, especially this time of year.  

• aa November 21, 2017 (12:26 pm)

  I don’t know if its because my eyes are just getting used to the dark and the rain again but it seems very hard to see out there.  Everyone with their classic Seattle dark clothes!  I don’t talk on my phone and I try to pay attention but its feels so dangerous.  Making a turn with the rain and glare, it really is hard to see if someone is crossing the street.  What can I do to help?  I am going stop at the yellow and wait for the next green light.  It really isn’t that long until it comes back to me and I think it will help me from rushing through intersections.

   Also, how about if we make an effort to contact the city to get a left arrow turn light on 35th going onto Avalon?  Tracy- any chance you can provide the email for the city department?  Thank you!

   

  • WSB November 21, 2017 (12:48 pm)

    https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/about-sdot/contact-us

• newnative November 21, 2017 (1:19 pm)

  Everyone is talking about how dangerous it is out there and bicyclists should wear brighter clothes, shouldn’t run lights, streets should be lit differently, etc. However, this collision was a crime. A person killed a bicyclist and fled the scene. I wish these stories didn’t always lead into this comment saga about bike safety, when it’s really about crime. 

• T November 21, 2017 (2:55 pm)

  Everyone needs to follow the law(s) and look out for each other, no matter which mode of transportation you choose.

• annika November 21, 2017 (5:12 pm)

  My thoughts and prayers for this man’s family.  What a terrible thing to happen.

• T November 21, 2017 (9:36 pm)

  I see many people driving vehicles and operating bikes without headlights/lights in the dark of night and early morning. Also during the day when it’s raining. I’ve seen it when it’s snowing too. Not commenting on the fatality but just in general, lights are key to seeing and being seen. It’s also illegal for vehicles to not have lights on 30 minutes after dusk or something like that. I see it often enough that I wanted to say something in the name of safety. Thanks, let’s take care of each other and live up to the good reputation our community has. I am sorry someone died. I hope the person that fled is apprehended ASAP.

• waikikigirl November 24, 2017 (1:37 pm)

  @WSB…Do you know if there has  been any arrests or updates on this horrendous crime (bicyclist)? 

  • WSB November 24, 2017 (3:06 pm)

    SPD has not announced anything; I checked the jail register and I don’t see any new bookings for vehicular homicide, which is what I expect one would show up as. Won’t be able to ask SPD media relations until Monday, otherwise, but we’ll definitely check then too. – TR

• waikikigirl November 24, 2017 (5:58 pm)

  @WSB…thanks for checking. 

• waikikigirl December 2, 2017 (9:03 am)

  I haven’t heard or seen anything more on this bicyclist.

  Is it because he was one of the homeless in the Sodo area and that is why no more news on him? If so… he is still a person, someone’s family member…or is no news because of the investigation still in progress? 

  • WSB December 2, 2017 (9:40 am)

    No idea. The medical examiner never announced an ID.

• Kathy December 2, 2017 (10:36 am)

  Seattle Neighborhood Greenways tracks motor vehicle collision deaths, whether the fatality is someone in the vehicle or a pedestrian or cyclist. However, many times, they are unable to obtain identification of the victim for various reasons, desire for privacy by family members being one of the chief reasons. We recently held a World Day of Remembrance ceremony commemorating the victims of motor vehicle related collisions in Seattle during the past year along with the posting of silhouettes at the location of these fatalities. No silhouettes had to be put up on the West Seattle peninsula this year. This accident is on a route used by many West Seattle cyclists and road safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists along this stretch of 1st Ave S. can’t come too soon.  There was another life threatening collision between a person biking and a truck in October just a block north of this site. 

  Motor vehicle collisions are responsible for about the same number of deaths as gun violence and the drug overdose epidemic in this country. Two people who survived the gun violence in the Las Vegas have since died in motor vehicle collisions. In addition to the deaths, many times more people are severely handicapped by these collisions. Most of these collisions are preventable. This is why we need to strive for safer road design and more safety education for all road users. West Seattle Bike Connections and Duwamish Valley Safe Streets are two Seattle Neighborhood Greenways member organizations representing City Council Districts 1 and 2. We are working hard to improve the safety of our Seattle streets and promote safety education.

  • Kathy December 2, 2017 (10:46 am)

    My error,  I said “this accident” when I should have said “this collision”.

• waikikigirl December 2, 2017 (11:49 am)

  My thoughts go out to his family and also the truck driver that came upon him and protected him until SPD and SFD/Medics got there it was awful.

  And thank you Kathy for your info.

• Scott A December 7, 2017 (11:38 am)

  Q13 TV has posted a story about the victim including video of the collision minus the actual impact moment.  Clearly a violent hit and run collision where the driver knows they hit someone who was even wearing a bright yellow top.

  • WSB December 7, 2017 (11:54 am)

    That’s just horrible. Anyway, it’s a CrimeStoppers story, so, sadly IMO, that information is not shared with other local media outlets due to an exclusivity relationship – but here’s the link to what you mentioned: http://q13fox.com/2017/12/06/horrific-hit-and-run-of-a-61-year-old-bicyclist-caught-on-video-police-ask-for-help-finding-killer/

    • Scott A December 7, 2017 (1:37 pm)

      That’s terrible it’s an exclusive relationship with one channel if it means word isn’t getting out that might lead to a suspect.  As is, word is getting out almost 2.5 weeks after the incident and memories fade quickly.  Better late than never but too bad.

      While I know SPD could not release the name of the victim in this case could you indicate whether SPD would’ve released the victim’s name or crime details sooner if this was a gun violence incident?  Just as deadly and maybe slightly less intentional a crime.

      • WSB December 7, 2017 (2:03 pm)

        SPD does not release victims’ names; the Medical Examiner does. The ME’s updates are not consistent (they theoretically record a “media line” update daily around 3 but some days, it doesn’t happen – and sometimes the name of someone in an incident we’re following just doesn’t show up, for reasons unknown -difficulty reaching next of kin? or?) but certainly in my experience don’t have anything to do with how people died. In at least two recent cases (including a gun-involved murder), the only reason I had the victims’ names was because there had been arrests and the court documents from subsequent charges did include the names – SPD redacts victim and suspect names, courts do not. – TR

        • Scott A December 7, 2017 (2:26 pm)

          Thanks for the explanation.  So interesting how the information distribution works when there’s public safety and crime evidence at stake that could help bring some degree of closure to victims families and the public in general. 

• miws December 7, 2017 (3:14 pm)

  I saw that Crime Stoppers/Q13 story too, this morning. They said it appeared that the driver of the Prius was doing about 60 in a 35 M.P.H. zone.  Makes this tragedy even more maddening beyond the hit and run aspect. :-/ 

  Mike

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