A 51-year-old woman died after her e-bike crashed into a gate on the pedestrian walkway of Seattle’s First Avenue South Bridge, turning a midday ride into a fatal South Seattle crash. The collision briefly blocked the roadway Tuesday as troopers worked the scene.
According to FOX 13 Seattle, Washington State Patrol troopers responded around 11:53 a.m. after the rider struck the walkway gate. Troopers said she and the e-bike came to rest on the walkway, and she was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she later died. Investigators listed intoxication as a factor, meaning drugs or alcohol were involved, and said she was not wearing a helmet. Her Lectric XP Lite was totaled, the roadway was blocked for less than an hour, and her name was withheld while relatives were notified.
Another Fatal E-Bike Crash Hit Seattle This Month
Seattle has now seen two fatal crashes involving electric-powered two-wheelers in July. Earlier this month, a 14-year-old boy died after losing control of a motorized electric bicycle on steep stairs at Colonnade Park, according to KIRO 7. Hoodline previously covered that earlier fatal e-bike crash, which happened in a mountain-bike park beneath I-5 and involved a very different riding environment than Tuesday’s bridge walkway collision.
Seattle Helmet Rules Add Context To Crash
Seattle’s traffic code says people operating electric-assisted bicycles must comply with laws and regulations related to bicycle helmets, according to the Seattle Municipal Code. The Washington State Department of Transportation notes that the state does not have a universal bicycle-helmet law, while local jurisdictions may impose their own requirements.
The woman’s name remained withheld pending notification of next of kin as authorities continued reviewing the crash. No further information about the investigation was immediately available.
