46 Replies to "UPDATE: Deadly collision in Georgetown"

• Al King March 24, 2021 (6:01 pm)

  TV show the truck-US Mail. They say it was a bicyclist that was hit. They had no other info.

• flimflam March 24, 2021 (6:25 pm)

  oh no, that sounds terrible. 

• Alki resident March 24, 2021 (6:43 pm)

  Praying for all involved, I’m sure the truck driver is devastated. 

• Coffeedude March 24, 2021 (6:46 pm)

  I was behind the semi.  It was a USPS semi turning right on red and he literally ran over a person on a bike who had the green.  That person was going west on Michigan and the semi was turning east onto Michigan.  It was horrible.

  • Stanly March 24, 2021 (7:21 pm)

    Did the truck driver swing wide into the oncoming (westbound) lane as he was making his right hand turn onto eastbound Michigan?  I’m having a hard time picturing the interaction.

  • S March 24, 2021 (8:14 pm)

    So was the cyclist on the wrong side of the road? I’m not understanding your description of the incident.

    • miws March 24, 2021 (8:34 pm)

      S, by that description I’m guessing, and it’s *only* a guess, that the semi driver was swinging wide on the right turn, as they have to with that long of a vehicle, and was turning into the oncoming, westbound lanes, and that the collision was “head-on”. —Mike

      • Coffeedude March 24, 2021 (8:51 pm)

        The semi was turning right on a Red, traveling north on Cordon, turning East onto Michigan.  This is the corner where the Shell Station is.  The cyclist had the green and was on the south side of Michigan, in the crosswalk biking west towards Harbor Freight Tools.

        • Jessica April 8, 2021 (1:50 pm)

          The man on the bike was my dad. If you have any more info I would appreciate anything you have. 

        • Jessica April 9, 2021 (4:28 pm)

          Would I be able to get your contact information? 

    • Foop March 24, 2021 (8:54 pm)

      Looks like there’s a turn lane there that quickly merges with traffic toward westbound michigan, judging by that description the cyclist had right of way and the driver was likely not stopping but looking to make sure he was clear on the left. I wasn’t there but assuming they were turning from Corson > Michigan that’s what it would look like. There’s also a ped crossing there but that intersection is not friendly for either. 

• Molly March 24, 2021 (6:57 pm)

  I’m stuck in the traffic very close to the intersection so sad :( it was a bicyclist 

• WS Commuter March 24, 2021 (7:03 pm)

  So very sad.  I see many semi-trucks moving through Georgetown, especially  in the late afternoon, and so many homeless folks on the streets and living in vehicles in Georgetown.  Traffic is definitely much heavier now along Michigan and Corson.

  • Seattle is full of awful people March 24, 2021 (7:51 pm)

    For goodness sake, someone died. Take a day off from the anti-homeless tirades.

    • Lala March 25, 2021 (3:00 am)

      Oh for goodness sake the above commenter left nothing close to a “ tirade” on the homeless. Tirade; a long,  angry speech of criticism or accusation. 

• jodilyn March 24, 2021 (7:05 pm)

  It’ was a very sad sight to see. A USPS semi truck appeared to have hit a pedestrian on a bicycle. I was there at the licensing office standing outside when the incident occurred. Didn’t see it, only heard it. Then walked to the corner to inquire as I thought it was a vehicle accident. Unfortunately it wasn’t. A sight I wish I could remove from my memory. 

• EveryoneIsAnotherYou March 24, 2021 (7:45 pm)

  I came upon the scene after police had covered the body with a plastic sheet in the rain. It was a grim scene and it’s bothered me all night. The green bicycle lay on its side in the interaction. As a cyclist myself, it was a sobering reminder of how dangerous streets with even “slow” traffic can be. I am so sorry for the cyclist, their family, and the driver of the truck. The other person on here commented that it sounds like this tragedy happened even though the cyclist had the right of way. Watch out for each other out there.

• sam-c March 24, 2021 (8:02 pm)

  Oh no- how horrible and tragic

• D March 24, 2021 (8:57 pm)

  I drove passed the scene shortly after it happened, it & definitely was a terrible sight to see. Praying for the lost soul and his love ones. 

• Graciano March 25, 2021 (4:45 am)

  It is very hard in some instances to see from the the drivers seat in a Semi that there is someone below on the passenger side of the truck. In this case I think the “free right” should never be allowed  especially for a Semi. I know I’ll hear grief on this but a life would not have been taken yesterday if driver waited for the green.
  I feel so sad for ALL involved.

  • K March 25, 2021 (12:42 pm)

    The semis used here are inherently more dangerous than the cab-over-engine types used overseas. Our country does little to make large vehicles safer, and our manufacturers keep building larger vehicles for personal and commercial use, with awful blind spots (in the front in elsewhere). In addition to addressing this major safety issue, banning right on reds is much easier to implement and should have been done years ago, as it has been elsewhere.

• Jay March 25, 2021 (6:54 am)

  I also drove by shortly after it happened and was wondering why traffic was backed up and as I approached the intersection saw his body laying lifeless in the middle. It was so sad, I literally started crying and said a prayer for him. Hard to get the image out of my head also, be safe and cautious everyone. ❤️

• Reed March 25, 2021 (6:55 am)

  Remember this next time one of you “Nothing But Cars” whiners has a hissy fit about bike lanes. This is absolutely infuriating as it is totally preventable.

• pd March 25, 2021 (8:13 am)

  From SPD: “Prior to the collision, the driver of the semi-truck was stopped facing northbound at the intersection of South Michigan Street and Corson Avenue South, preparing to make an eastbound right turn. As the driver waited at the light, a bicyclist that had also been travelling northbound pulled in front of the truck, apparently out of view of the driver. When the truck pulled forward to turn right, the bicyclist was struck and killed”

• B March 25, 2021 (9:37 am)

  SPD blotter is reporting it: https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2021/03/24/detectives-investigating-georgetown-fatality-collision/“A bicyclist was killed late Wednesday afternoon after being hit by a semi-truck in the Georgetown neighborhood.Just before 5:00 p.m., police responded to the intersection of South Michigan Street and Corson Avenue South for reports of a semi-truck vs. bicyclist collision. Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene as well and declared the approximately 40-year-old male victim deceased.Prior to the collision, the driver of the semi-truck was stopped facing northbound at the intersection of South Michigan Street and Corson Avenue South, preparing to make an eastbound right turn. As the driver waited at the light, a bicyclist that had also been travelling northbound pulled in front of the truck, apparently out of view of the driver. When the truck pulled forward to turn right, the bicyclist was struck and killed.An officer trained as a Drug Recognition Expert responded to the scene and determined the driver showed no signs of drug or alcohol intoxication.”

  • Sadness March 25, 2021 (10:20 am)

    I’m wondering why the police blotter has a different account from coffeedude above. The police account suggests the bicyclist was going the same way as the truck, rather than crossing the street, and also avoids mentioning that the truck was turning right on red (“waited at the light… when the truck pulled forward). It’s as if the police account is designed to blame the bicyclist.To be fair, if the bicyclist came up Corson and then turned left in front of the truck to cross the street, that was a dangerous and sadly tragic thing to do, and the truck driver would indeed have had difficulty seeing him.  But I’m in favor of Graciano’s suggestion that semi-trucks not be permitted to turn right on red – the visibility needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists is not good enough.

    • Jason March 26, 2021 (9:10 am)

      “It’s as if the police account is designed to blame the bicyclist”Well, did you ever stop to think that maybe it WAS the bicyclists’ fault?  I doubt the police statement simply came from the statement of one person.  Betting it was probably carefully investigated, assessed, and reported.  Maybe even some video of it out there too.

• Don Brubeck March 25, 2021 (10:14 am)

  So sorry for this person’s family and friends and loss of life. Sorry for the truck driver, too,  In Georgetown and SODO, most streets that people on bikes must use also must be used by heavy trucks. Most unfortunately, this fatal crash is not the first.  This is why we need the Mayor and Council to fund and SDOT to build safe bike routes through Georgetown and SODO with decent paving, and separation from heavy trucks on arterials, and traffic calming and street edge definition on minor streets.  Drivers of large trucks have huge blind spots. Intersections on arterials with heavy truck traffic need to be designed and marked for safety of cyclists and pedestrians and turning movements of trucks. The Freight Master Plan and Bicycle Master Plan show what to do and how to do it. Now, just do it.

  • Spoked March 25, 2021 (4:16 pm)

    ‘This is why we need the Mayor and Council to fund and SDOT to build safe bike routes through Georgetown and SODO with decent paving, and separation from heavy trucks on arterials, and traffic calming and street edge definition on minor streets.’

    Yes. This needs to be a priority. How can we help push this forward?

    Also, I hope to see a ghost bike memorial up at this intersection, for this person and loss of life, and as a cautionary reminder to all road users.

    Hope all of you who had to witnessed this are recovering.

• Mj March 25, 2021 (11:15 am)

  Google defines a sidewalk as follows:

  “A sidewalk, pavement, footpath, or footway, is a path along the side of a road, it is designed for pedestrians. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb”

  Pedestrian walking speed is 3 to 4 mph.  Bicyclists are allowed to use sidewalks, but they are not designed as bike paths that provide for higher speeds!  This is especially the case if a bicyclists is riding on a sidewalk contra flow to the adjacent street traffic.

  • reed March 26, 2021 (6:59 am)

    Who gives a flying F how Google defines a sidewalk. How is it relevant to what happened?

    “This is especially the case if a bicyclists is riding on a sidewalk contra flow to the adjacent street traffic.”  Did you actually read what happened? The guy on the bike was travelling the same direction as the truck. 

  • Jort March 26, 2021 (4:14 pm)

    Here’s something cool: the “google” definition of sidewalk, nor your feelings about who belongs on them, matter one iota to a person’s right to bike on them in Seattle. Of course, if a cyclist on the sidewalk bothers you, I’m sure you’ll be happy to cede road space to cyclists to provide for safe, dedicated cycling infrastructure, right? 

• bolo March 25, 2021 (11:55 am)

  Since The Bridge, I’ve been using the bike for most all of my transportation. Here’s what I learned about riding in Georgetown: There is no safe way to ride on Michigan. Sidewalk is the best bet, and street crossings require extra vigilance. Best to avoid riding on Michigan at all costs.

  • Foop March 25, 2021 (5:25 pm)

    If west seattle is your destination I find ellis > marginal > south park bridge to be a much safer route. Marginal has. Bike lane, but when you approach boeing be cautious of drives that use the right turns lane early and try to merge over crossing the bike lane.

• Kat March 25, 2021 (5:47 pm)

  I also saw the aftermath. It was horrific. It helps to see these other comments and know others are feeling the same way. So sad.

• Katie March 25, 2021 (8:45 pm)

  The bicyclist killed was my friend River and while he may have been homeless, he did not deserve what happened to him and will be missed by many. 

  • AJP March 26, 2021 (9:46 am)

    He absolutely didn’t deserve this. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. RIP River. 

  • Spoked March 26, 2021 (7:23 pm)

    So sorry for your tragic loss and grief, Katie. Hope you and Rivers other friends are taking good care. 💛

  • Deborah Blair March 26, 2021 (11:33 pm)

    Katie , I’m deeply sorry that your friend died in this way. He certainly did not deserve this. I was there right after it happened and prayed for him. Thank you for sharing his name , I will continue to make aspirations for him. Holding River and his friends and family in my heart ❤ .

  • Jessica April 8, 2021 (1:43 pm)

    The bicyclist who died was my dad. His name was actually not River. It was Rob. Please refer to him as Rob from now on. Thank you. 

    • Jessica April 8, 2021 (1:44 pm)

      He also wasn’t 40. He was 54 years old when he passed. 

      • melissa April 9, 2021 (11:39 am)

        So sorry, Jessica. What a terrible loss. May his memory be a blessing.

• cecyguillen March 26, 2021 (9:26 am)

  Hola Katie, ¿era amigo tuyo? el ciclista golpeó, ¿cuál era su nombre completo? Poder ayudar. Gracias

• Amy K Horn March 26, 2021 (12:18 pm)

  Ghost Bike is up now in memory of River. Please, let’s keep pushing the city for safer routes for peds and bikes through Georgetown. 

  • Spoked March 26, 2021 (7:26 pm)

    👍

    +1

  • Jessica April 8, 2021 (2:27 pm)

    His real name was Rob. If there’s something in his memory can we change it to his real name ? He was my dad. 

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