Person biking critically injured in collision at 65th and Ravenna Blvd- UPDATED
A 48-year-old man biking in Ravenna was critically injured in a collision with someone driving a King County Metro VanPool vehicle this morning on NE 65th Street near Ravenna Boulevard.
Though few details have been released, Seattle Police say the person biking and a person driving the van collided shortly before 7 a.m.
KIRO TV photos from the scene show a red King County Metro VanPool vehicle with a broken windshield stopped in the eastbound lane a half block east of Ravenna Blvd. The damaged bicycle was pictured near a crosswalk at Ravenna Blvd.
The man injured was transported to the hospital, but we currently have no information about his condition. We are hoping for the best and will update when we learn more. (UPDATE 12:30PM: Seattle Fire says the patient was a male who was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. I have updated the story and headline to reflect this.).
SPD's traffic collision investigators taped off the area to conduct an investigation. A drug recognition expert was on the scene, as is typical for serious collision investigations. SPD towed the van from the scene.
Cyclist collision Ravenna/65, at hospital, forensics on scene pic.twitter.com/scfmGz0D2i
- Peter (@photogtm) May 10, 2016
The collision occurred just a few blocks from the intersection of NE 65th St and 15th Ave NE where Andy Hulslander was killed last summer while biking home from work.
UPDATE 11:30 AM: Below is the statement from SPD on the collision. Still no word yet on the person's condition:
A 48-year-old bicyclist was seriously injured Tuesday in a collision with a van in the Ravenna neighborhood.
Witnesses called 911 just after 7 am Tuesday and reported a collision between a red Metro Van Pool vehicle and the cyclist. Both were headed eastbound on NE 65th St. at NE Ravenna Blvd.
The cyclist sustained serious injuries and was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. No one in the van was injured.
Traffic Collision investigators responded to the scene and spoke with witnesses and collected evidence. A SPD drug recognition expert interviewed the driver of the van and found no signs of impairment.
Detectives continue to investigate the case to determine the circumstances and cause of the collision.
King County Metro's VanPool program is designed to help groups of five people or more share rides to work together. Vans are driven by members of the group, not by Metro employees. VanPool drivers can also use the vans for personal errands.