UPDATE: Motorcycle rider crashes on Harbor Avenue

6:06 PM: Police and fire are at the scene of a motorcycle crash on Harbor Avenue. They are blocking Harbor at Don Armeni. We just arrived to find out more.

6:16 PM: The motorcycle rider has been taken to Harborview. We are told he hit a pole outside a condo building on the south/eastbound side of the street. Traffic is being detoured through Don Armeni.

7:08 PM: Commenter reports the road has reopened. We have a message out following up on the rider’s condition.

ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: The police summary released today says that “an individual was test driving a motorcycle, without a helmet, at speeds of 70 + MPH, on Harbor Av SW. He was also weaving in and out of traffic. Eventually the motorcyclist struck a vehicle and flew 80-feet onto the roadway. He suffered injuries to his head and to his body. Seattle Fire reported he was, “somewhat stable” and had him rushed to HMC via a medic unit.”

RickB June 15, 2022 (6:29 pm)

Some kind of four-cylinder sportbike with most of the fairing smashed off. Notice the squared-off tread on the rear tire, probably from burnouts. Verdict: standard squid; excessive speed and lost control.

K June 15, 2022 (6:53 pm)

Road reopened at 6:52

Brian Wright June 15, 2022 (6:56 pm)

I live in the Seabird Condominiums. I heard him flying back and forth. He must have been going 100 mph. People in the condo said he was not wearing a helmet. I hope he survived.

John Doe June 15, 2022 (7:37 pm)

I Hope all is well also alki is a place young adults come to show off cars and put on car shows and tricks some people see it as bad and other as an alternative for young adults to stay out of gang related activities and crime. people need to be more carful and not so in the moment you can enjoy your time just make sure your safe. prayers to the motorcyclist

lilian June 15, 2022 (7:14 pm)

Unsurprised to see it was the pink motorcycle speeding dangerously around and through cars and the water taxi shuttles around 5:40pm. The dangerous driving was clearly and concerning intentional (I definitely wondered if the driver was a danger to themselves), and absolutely regret not thinking to call the police before someone else or (more likely) the driver was injured. I can’t imagine how horrible any impact must have been, and hope they pull through.

Connor June 15, 2022 (9:02 pm)

SPD would not have done anything. We live on Alki and people drive crazy like that every nice day of the year. Unfortunately, SPD and the City of Seattle continue to ignore this dangerous behavior. We need speed bumps on Alki and 63rd.
- WSB June 15, 2022 (9:41 pm)
  
  This is a topic on the Alki Community Council agenda tonight. You might consider attending (either in person or online). It’ll be in our daily preview in the morning.
  - RainLover June 16, 2022 (11:43 am)
    
    Glad to hear it’s on the agenda, thx. Like another commenter, I also live in the Seabird (across from Don Armeni Boat Launch). This incident was at the extreme end of what we often see here – speeding, showboating cars & motorcycles, on the street & in the parking lot. Usually it’s ephemeral, one or two passes, too quick for law enforcement to respond to a call. Of course, the usually briefer duration is still very dangerous to the driver/rider, other drivers, not to mention all the strolling families, dogwalkers, rollerbladers, bike & scooter riders.Upon hearing the third pass last night, I decided to call the police. I was starting to dial when the rider crashed. I hope he survived, too. Like another commenter, I became concerned the rider’s intentions were suicidal, that others would be harmed as well. Going forward, it would be good to know if the police would rather we call every time we hear or see a first pass?
- Jeepney June 16, 2022 (7:11 am)
  
  Connor, before you state that SPD is “ignoring” this type of behavior, please remember that they clearly don’t have the resources anymore. We are on our own for the most part.
  - ProbablyYourNeighbor June 16, 2022 (3:40 pm)
    
    This reminded me of calling the police about motorcyclist doing pretty much the same thing near the Taco Time at the top of the bridge in 2017 or 2018. No helmet, wheelies, probably hitting 70mph on Fauntleroy, etc.
    
    Got a “thanks for your call,” not even a we’ll send someone out, or if someone’s nearby they’ll check it out. I don’t particularly blame them- a motorcyclist doing that stuff is probably going to run and be high liability to chase, but it’s always been a choice they made, not because they’re understaffed/underfunded.
- Mike June 16, 2022 (11:04 am)
  
  They need speed bumps all along harbor

Mark June 15, 2022 (8:11 pm)

I was sitting on a bench in Luna Park when he came around the bend heading toward the beach, fast and loud. He wasn’t wearing a helmet or any protective gear. He went a short way, then turned around and raced back toward Don Armeni Park. I heard a loud sound echo around the bay and could not figure out what it was or what direction it came from. It sounded like a canon and when I saw the motorcycle I realized it was the exploding tire that I heard.

WS5 June 15, 2022 (9:39 pm)

Way are there not speed bumps on this part of Harbor Ave? There are speed bumps along the Westside along the houses. It seems with all the walkers, skaters, bikes and runners plus the cars it would be a good idea to have large speed bumps to slow down the moving vehicles. Maybe if the road was unpleasant to cruise the cars and motorcycles would just park and walk around instead of going back and forth along the beach.

Mike June 16, 2022 (11:06 am)

I think it all goes ignored bySpd I do know someone who was recruited for July 1st start at sod hope they get many more to deal with the things they just can’t respond to.

Cranky June 16, 2022 (6:48 am)

Hit a pole? That is very bad.

WSB June 16, 2022 (11:10 am)

A witness, and the brief police summary released today, say he actually hit a car. Updating above.

momosmom June 16, 2022 (7:43 am)

People saw and heard this going on before it turned drastically into an accident and didn’t take the time to call the Police but now have time to post a comment to say they saw and heard it. Does this make you feel better now? As for speed bumps, those won’t slow anybody down, they just add more excitement to their dare-d evilness, as for cruising and racing this will never go away it’s been around since the beginning of cars and teenagers thinking they need to “prove” themselves. For the rider of the MC I hope he/she will be alright after healing from this horrible accident!

JD June 16, 2022 (7:02 pm)

Momosmom … WHAT??!!! “Does this make you feel better now?” Why in the world would you say that? The person on the motorcycle chose to drive dangerously! Thank goodness no innocent bystander was injured.
- momosmom June 17, 2022 (7:46 am)
  
  JD… No this doesn’t make me feel better to say what I did, it’s the truth and if you are a regular reader of the Blog you’d know that “a lot” of commenters come on here to complain and complain and that’s as far as it goes until the next story. And, YES I am so happy no innocent people were hurt or killed because of this persons foolish choice he made that day and hope he recovers from those choices physically and mentally.

Friend of kelp forests June 16, 2022 (8:05 am)

The post about speed bumps a few weeks ago mentioned absurd prices. Old truck tires cut into strips and laid across the road work great for slowing traffic in Mexico. We should try those as an affordable alternative to cement bumps.

Sillygoose June 16, 2022 (12:34 pm)

I cant tell by the photo but is it a vintage cafe motorcycle?

Neighbor June 16, 2022 (4:14 pm)

No.

Kathleen June 16, 2022 (1:54 pm)

Any news on the welfare of the driver of the car?

Marcus June 17, 2022 (3:50 am)

Harbor avenue from the bridge to the head seems to be a speedsters race course. I was was going 28 or so and a medium SUV passed multiple cars passing me on a curve almost clipping my car. Saw the same SUV turning into a high priced condo. Everyone is driving poorly. I do support the 25, it is safer, especially when so many road jockeys are out there.