Through protests and vigils on Beacon Ave, Rodriguez’s friends refuse to let them be forgotten + Police still seeking suspect who fled

Memorial to Alley Rodriguez, 38. RIP.

Friends and supporters of Alley Rodriguez have shut down traffic at the intersection of S Stevens Street and Beacon Avenue S multiple times since Rodriguez was struck and killed by a driver who fled the scene December 14. In all my years writing Seattle Bike Blog, I have never seen a community response quite like this before. They refused to let Rodriguez's death go by without protest, and their protest helped bring the incident to the attention of more community members who may have information or camera footage of the person responsible. They also made sure that Rodriguez's life would be known and remembered, as the South Seattle Emerald reported. They were 38.

If there's anything we can do to raise awareness and bring it an closer to getting justice for Sergio/Alley, then that's what I want to do," said Sarah Kerr, a friend who created a GoFundMe to support Rodriguez's family. Kerr said Rodriguez was biking home after an evening with friends at the Punk Rock Flea Market and the Equinox holiday party. They had only returned to town recently after several years away working on fishing boats in Alaska. Many people in town and many family members knew them as Serge or Sergio, also their official government name, though they were transitioning to Alley. (Seattle Bike Blog is including their previous names because it seems they were still in the process of changing it when this tragedy happened, and this is how several friends have been referring to them).

Both Councilmember Eddie Lin (whose District 2 includes the collision location) and Mayor Katie Wilson released statements of mourning and support. Thank you to neighbors & activists who held a vigil last night, raising the visibility of this tragic crime," posted Lin a day after the tragedy. We must shine a spotlight on traffic safety - thankfully the vigil resulted in a nearby business coming forward to share potentially helpful video footage with SPD officers on the scene."

Caution: The following section contains details of the collision and injuries, so please stop here if you don't want to read it.

The early police narrative states that shortly after midnight in the early morning of December 14, Rodriguez was crossing Beacon Ave eastbound in the marked crosswalk at Stevens Street when a person driving southbound on Beacon struck them at a high rate of speed and then fled the scene. Witnesses told police that Rodriguez was lying unconscious and not breathing in the west lane of Beacon Ave roadway immediately following the collision, and medics declared them dead at the scene. The witnesses estimated the person was driving about 55 miles per hour before the collision and barely slowed down before fleeing and possibly turning east onto S Spokane Street. The signed speed limit is 25. They described the vehicle as a mid-to-late 1990s Toyota Camry with gold trim and emblems. The front end was likely damaged in the collision, potentially including the windshield, hood and passenger-side headlight. Seattle Police released the following images of a similar model of car:

S Stevens Street is an offset intersection with a well-marked crosswalk that still has fresh and bright paint stripes. The optional flashing lights, which have no legal meaning and are only intended to draw increased attention to the crosswalk, can only be activated using a button on the sidewalk and not from the street. The police report does not mention if the lights were flashing at the time of the collision. This section of Beacon Ave was recently redesigned to add protected bike lanes and improved crosswalks like the one at Stevens. The general traffic lanes were also reduced in width, a design that encourages slower and safer driving speeds. However, there is nothing to stop someone from driving 55 in a 25 if that's what they are determined to do.

Seattle Police are still seeking any tips or video that could help them locate the suspect. Call the traffic collision investigation team at 206-684-8923 and reference incident number 2025-365188.

Or better yet, the person behind the wheel should do the right thing and turn themselves in. Rodriguez's loved ones deserve closure and healing, and you have a unique power to help by accepting responsibility. You may even find some healing for yourself.