SUV driver strikes and kills person biking on Bellevue Way near I-90 Trail detour route

A person driving an SUV on Bellevue Way SE struck and killed a person on a bike at the intersection with SE 30th Street/113th Ave SE at 6:35 a.m. Thursday (October 15), according to Bellevue Police. First responders attempted life saving measures, but the person died at the scene.

Our condolences to their friends and family.

Details are scarce on exactly how the fatal collision occurred. KIRO 7 camera crews show a mangled bicycle in the northbound lanes and an SUV with a smashed passenger-side windshield facing north and at rest in the southbound left turn lanes. Bellevue Police traffic investigators were collective evidence, but their report is not yet available.

It is not yet clear whether the person biking was riding on Bellevue Way or trying to cross the street, which transitions from I-90 ramps to city roadway at that intersection. This is the first intersection someone would encounter after exiting the freeway, so people are likely to be driving faster than usual. Initial information from BPD also does not note anything about the driver's speed nor does it specify which direction the person was biking at the time or where exactly on the road the collision occurred. There is no crosswalk or traffic signal to cross Bellevue Way at 30th/113th, and curbs line the turn lanes in the middle of the street. It would have still been dark at 6:35 a.m.

Base map from King County with additional marking showing Thursday's fatal collision location. This map was posted online but not in-person at trail closure locations.

A King County sewer project closed a section of the I-90 Trail nearby earlier in the week, and the fatal intersection is along the detour route. The North Mercer Island/Enatai Sewer Upgrade Project has been under construction in phases since 2022 and has also disrupted sections of the trail through Mercer Island. The latest work zone has closed a section of the trail where it passes under I-90 between Mercer Slough and Enatai Beach Park in Bellevue. The detour route sends users north to South Bellevue Station where there is a traffic signal to cross Bellevue Way. Neighborhood streets connect to the I-90 Trail west of Bellevue Way while another trail connects to the I-90 Trail on the east side of Bellevue Way.

While the bike rider's route and intent are not publicly known at this time, this tragedy happening along a fresh trail detour route raises alarm bells. The fatal collision happened about halfway between the closed trail and the official detour's crossing at Bellevue Station. If one were to get across the street at 30th/113th they would be able to meet back with the trail, and on a map it looks like a viable route. It's also possible that if someone on the eastbound detour missed or skipped the left turn onto 112th Ave SE they would end up on 113th Ave SE instead, which leads to this intersection. While at this time we don't know the rider's route or intent or whether the detour played any role in the tragedy, it's worth playing it safe and making extra sure that others do not try to cross this unsafe intersection during this detour. Reader bicievino has created a slideshow of their suggested signage changes.

Seattle Bike Blog reader Lore forwarded emails they sent to the project's general email address October 12 noting that the detour map posted online (see above) was not physically posted at the trail closure locations, adding, I saw lots of runners and cyclists getting confused. Can you please post signs with maps of the suggested detour at both the west and east closure barricades? I think this could help make the detour easier to follow." A staffer responded via the NMEsewer@kingcounty.gov email account October 13 saying, We're preparing signs showing the detour map for placement at both closure points and other locations along the route. We've also shared the signage concerns with our construction management team and asked them to coordinate with the contractor to review and address unclear directions along the detour."

The detour is expected to be in place for 3-4 weeks.