UPDATE: Another westbound West Seattle Bridge crash: This time, police motorcycle officer

(Reader photo)

2:28 PM: Just as the rain returns – a bit icy this time – there’s been another crash toward the west end of the West Seattle Bridge: This time involving a motorcycle officer from the SPD Traffic Unit. He has told dispatch he’s not hurt but SFD is being sent to check him out; other officers are arriving at the scene.

2:31 PM: Reader photo added.

2:39 PM: Same reader (thank you!) just texted this one showing the location more widely:

Officers have just told dispatch that all westbound lanes are blocked, though they’re “working to move everything to the right shoulder” in hopes that won’t last long.

2:50 PM: Tow truck hasn’t arrived yet but police say the westbound lanes are open again.

Guy April 15, 2026 (2:43 pm)

Should have obeyed the speed limit.

WSB April 15, 2026 (2:49 pm)

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In this case I think eventually there might be an actual record of what speed at which the officer was traveling …
- G G April 15, 2026 (3:14 pm)
  
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  I was the first car behind when the crash happened. The officer passed in the right lane before the bend at a fairly high speed. I was in the left lane and slowing my speed down before the curve. Luckily I saw a cloud of dust from over the jersey barriers and slowed to a stop with my hazards.
  - Justducky April 15, 2026 (4:40 pm)
    
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    The officer crashed right before the bend? The same area where others have crashed?Gosh, somebody thought those signs would be enough to prevent accidents like this… 🫤
  - Jort April 15, 2026 (5:05 pm)
    
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    Recognizing this is only based on what you’ve seen, was the officer responding to a call with lights flashing?
    - G G April 15, 2026 (5:53 pm)
      
      Based on what I saw, no. Didn’t see any lights. Could still have been responding to an incident of course.
      
      Also worth noting that at the time the pavement was bare and dry. Ironically it started raining and hailing maybe a minute later
    - G G April 15, 2026 (6:26 pm)
      
      Honestly, no his lights weren’t on at the time. And no siren. Who knows if he was responding to an incident though. Worth noting the road surface was bare and dry at the time he ditched. Ironically, it started raining and hailing minutes later
  - bill April 16, 2026 (8:29 am)
    
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    Public employees driving official vehicles really should model responsible driving. The most flagrant violators are police followed by bus drivers.

Dave April 15, 2026 (3:39 pm)

Engineering malpractice by SDOT not having fixed this years ago (and our City Council not demanding it).

Derp April 15, 2026 (6:27 pm)

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Oh stop it. If there was a huge problem, don’t you think there would be wrecks ALL DAY LONG. No, just the people that speed and disobey laws.
- WSzombie April 15, 2026 (8:18 pm)
  
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  Is it possible for you to change your perspective? Or are you just too smug and righteous to even fathom you could be wrong? If you are willing to be open to being shown what is going on here and learning the reality, I’d love to opportunity to meet with you and drive over that section together in support of an earnest discussion.
- Dawn April 15, 2026 (9:51 pm)
  
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  https://curvycrashes.com/

Pietro April 15, 2026 (3:55 pm)

Maybe now this will get some attention at city hall.

WesternAlumn2020 April 15, 2026 (4:25 pm)

Speed matters, but other curves on the same road don’t do this. The pavement at the apex goes from grippy to slick in the rain. SDOT needs to look at high-friction surface treatment, move the 30mph sign further upstream, and for the love of all things, fix the traffic camera that’s been broken so we can see real time conditions.

Mark m April 16, 2026 (12:41 am)

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Proper driving technique is braking before the apex and accelerating out of the turn. This turn is unlike any other turn in the city (that I’ve come across). You brake going in and full coast through the turn then accelerate once you hit the straight away. I’ve felt my AWD vehicle slipping for traction while going the speed limit and on newer tires if accelerating even the slightest after the apex.
- bill April 16, 2026 (8:25 am)
  
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  Why are you accelerating knowing there is a stop light just ahead? If you approach the turn at a reasonable speed you just need to take your foot off the gas and let gravity slow your car. No need for brakes apart from lightly touching the pedal to warn the guy tailgating to drop back. AWD is no panacea.

Erik April 15, 2026 (4:49 pm)

But SDOT still doesnt think it’s a problem with the road itself…

Dp April 15, 2026 (5:25 pm)

I’m so sick and tired of reading these comments about how that part of the road is messed up. That isn’t the problem. The problem is speed.

Mike April 15, 2026 (5:48 pm)

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Odd, people have been speeding around that corner for many decades and only after it was repaved did it become a notorious problem area. Speed is an issue, but the main issue is engineering, poor materials and poor workmanship that left a hump too.
Road enthusiast April 15, 2026 (5:52 pm)

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It can be both. The road material changes suddenly in combination with undulation which wreaks havok on vehicles with light backends and motorcycles. Those rapid changes paired with speed (and water) = crashes.
Chemist April 15, 2026 (5:53 pm)

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Maybe changing from a high friction road surface to a much lower friction one with polished rock surface in the middle of a curve is just not a predictable road design? It’s like when bicyclists have a nice separated bike lane and then it just disappears and they’re dumped into the general traffic, it creates a more hazardous condition and people yell at SDOT to improve the road to maintain the safer condition.
Hammer in Hand April 15, 2026 (6:32 pm)

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Just slow down. Seems easier then the 13 month it would take for SDOT to resurface both lanes
- Mark m April 16, 2026 (12:44 am)
  
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  Invest now to reap the reward in the future. They’d be done in a few days. It’s like 25 yards of road lol. Don’t be so dramatic
  - Hammer in Hand April 16, 2026 (12:38 pm)
    
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    Thats my point, should only take 2 weeks but it is SDOT

Meeee April 16, 2026 (7:26 am)

Don’t these photos show that the motorcycle was going eastbound, not westbound? The headline says it’s a westbound accident. Isn’t that the pedestrian bridge in the background of the 2nd photo?