According to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, a bicyclist was hospitalized with serious injuries Wednesday morning after colliding with an SUV near Frederickson in Pierce County. The crash occurred at about 7:38 a.m. at the intersection of 74th Avenue East and 176th Street East.
Fire & Rescue spokesperson Chief Steve Richards told the Tacoma News Tribune that the bicyclist was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office is investigating the cause and circumstances of the collision, the newspaper reported.
The News Tribune also reported that it asked the sheriff's office whether the collision had led to any arrests. As of publication, it had not confirmed whether anyone had been arrested, cited or charged.
A Painful Local Precedent
The Frederickson crash echoes a tragic 2022 case in nearby Parkland, where a 13-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed by a car while using a crosswalk near Pacific Avenue and 134th Street South, according to The News Tribune. In that incident, Washington State Patrol troopers initially said the driver was not speeding and was not driving while impaired, per the same account.
That 2022 case prompted renewed conversation among local bicycling advocates about street safety in Pierce County. Cascade Bicycle Club spokesperson Paul Tolmé said at the time that measures such as reducing speed limits and installing protected bike lanes could help make streets safer for cyclists, the report notes.
Planned Transportation Improvements
According to Pierce County's 2019 Community Plan Updates, a Frederickson transportation priority project for 70 Avenue East from 160th Street East to 204th Street East called for a new road with sidewalks and paved shoulders. The county's 2024 Comprehensive Plan also calls for a transportation system that makes it easier for residents to use public transit, walk, bike or roll. The planning documents identify these goals and projects but do not establish whether the listed improvements have been completed or whether they relate to Wednesday's crash.
What Advocates Say Prevents These Crashes
Local bicycling advocates have said that preventing fatal crashes between bicycles and cars comes down to a combination of infrastructure, engineering and enforcement, according to the outlet's 2022 reporting. Whether any of those factors played a role in Wednesday's Frederickson collision remains unclear, and the sheriff's office has not released findings from its investigation.
No further details about the bicyclist's identity, current condition, or the driver involved have been made available. Hoodline will update this story as the Pierce County Sheriff's Office releases more information.
