An early morning commute on northbound Interstate 405 near Bothell turned deadly Monday when a 41-year-old Everett man was hit and killed after running into traffic. Troopers said the man had gotten out of his car on the left shoulder near Northeast 160th Street and tried to cross the northbound lanes, where he was struck and died at the scene. The highway was shut down for several hours while investigators worked, and the crash remains under investigation.
UPDATE 5:25 AM: Two right lanes of NB I-405 remain blocked just south of NE 160th St (MP 22) in Bothell due to a collision. Incident Response, State Patrol and tow crews are on scene. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/g1qqOEvmfe
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 4, 2026
What troopers say
According to the Washington State Patrol, the collision happened just before 5 a.m. on northbound I-405, south of Northeast 160th Street. Troopers told FOX 13 Seattle that a car had stopped on the left shoulder and a person who got out of the vehicle ran across the northbound lanes, where a passing vehicle struck him.
Driver, response and scene
The driver of the other vehicle, described by troopers as 26 years old, contacted authorities shortly before 5 a.m. and cooperated with investigators, according to KIRO 7 / MyNorthwest. Troopers and tow crews stayed on scene while investigators documented the crash.
Traffic impact
WSDOT Traffic reported that two right lanes of northbound I-405 just south of NE 160th Street, at milepost 22, were blocked while Incident Response and State Patrol crews handled the collision. FOX 13 Seattle reported the roadway was closed for three hours and 16 minutes while troopers collected evidence and cleared the freeway.
Safety takeaway
Roadside safety guidance stresses that if a vehicle becomes disabled, drivers should make themselves visible, use hazard lights and, when it is unsafe to get out, remain inside the vehicle and call for help. AAA advises using reflective devices and contacting roadside assistance instead of walking into traffic, a choice that can quickly turn deadly on high-speed highways.
Investigation ongoing
The Washington State Patrol continues to investigate and has not released additional details about the crash, according to KIRO 7 / MyNorthwest. The outlet notes it is treating the incident as a developing story and plans to update coverage as more information becomes available.
