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Bike rider collides with parked van at 11th/Pine — UPDATE

Police are investigating a crash Sunday night at 11 and Pine that sent its 27-year-old rider to the hospital after she reportedly ran into a parked van.

According to East Precinct radio dispatches and Seattle Fire, the rider was not wearing a helmet when she struck the van around 10:18 PM. Seattle Fire said the rider was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Witnesses said the woman suffered a head injury in the incident.

UPDATE: Police say the 27-year-old female rider struck an SPD prisoner transport van parked on the westbound side of Pine above 11th Ave in the area zoned for police parking only. SPD says investigators have not determined what caused the rider to collide with the van and that the rider is in stable condition at this time. Police confirm that she was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Police said E Pine would be closed for a “long period of time” overnight as the investigation of the crash continued.

Earlier this month, a 43-year-old bicyclist suffered serious injuries when he collided head-on with an SUV on E Pike at Boren. Police said the rider in that collision had been drinking and was also not wearing a helmet.

UPDATE: Here is the SPD report on the incident.

 27-year old cyclist was injured Sunday night after she collided with a parked Seattle Police van in front of the East precinct on Capitol Hill. At about 10:30 pm, the woman was riding her bike east on E Pine St approaching 12th Avenue when she struck the rear of the legally parked prisoner transport van.

Seattle Fire Department responded and transported the woman to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The woman, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision, is in stable condition.

Seattle Police Traffic Collision Investigators responded to the scene and are investigating the incident. Police haven’t determined what caused the woman to ride into the van.

UPDATE 4/30/14: Here is the collision report from SPD on the incident. It confirms details from reports that a vehicle was making a u-turn at the time of the crash. We don’t have an update on the victim’s condition but wish her the best in her recovery.

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jonathan
jonathan
9 years ago

I hope she is OK and healing.

PBE
PBE
9 years ago

I have no sympathy for these idiots who ride without helmets

r
r
9 years ago
Reply to  PBE

I have no sympathy for idiots that drive or walk without helmets.

James
James
9 years ago
Reply to  r

What does that even mean?

Patrick
Patrick
9 years ago

Or drinking and not wearing a helmet.

MG
MG
9 years ago

That’s a pity, but why is this newsworthy? It seems like this is just a case of klutziness or drunkenness.

Is it only because it involved a bicyclist on Capitol Hill? Should there be stories about people who trip on the terrible sidewalks and twist an ankle on Capitol Hill as well?

K
K
9 years ago

I saw this happen (or rather heard it, then saw the rider on the ground). Another cyclist riding in front of her, stopped, punched the hood of a car behind him, threw open the drivers door and nearly ripped him out of the car, and started screaming at him. It would seem now he had nothing to do with it.

I feel bad for any injured person, but I’m sick to death of the lack of coexistence in this city among pedestrians, autos, and bikes. We ALL need to be conscious of our situations and not be so eager to place blame (almost to a point of violence).

Richard
Richard
9 years ago
Reply to  K

Just curious, why do you say, “It would seem now he had nothing to do with it”? I haven’t seen anything actually release details of the cause/contributing factors…

K
K
9 years ago
Reply to  Richard

True, it might be a bad assumption, but had the car been the cause of the accident, youd think that would be at least mentioned in the police report given to CHB

K
K
9 years ago
Reply to  jseattle

well there you have it.

PBE
PBE
9 years ago
Reply to  K

The female rider was breaking the law by not wearing a helmet. Once again it is a cyclist thinking they are above the law that leads to an accident

Richard
Richard
9 years ago
Reply to  PBE

How, precisely, did the lack of helmet cause her to veer into a parked vehicle??

In no way do I condone riding without a helmet, but your comment is pretty derpy :)

Cea
Cea
9 years ago
Reply to  PBE

really, lack of helmet causes the accident? seems possible she got squeezed into the van by the other car

andysea
andysea
9 years ago

That’s really sad.
I have to say tho, as a pedestrian that has lived on capitol hill for over 12 years I can’t remember one single time when cyclist has stopped for me while I was on a crosswalk. I’ve risked getting hit many times especially on 12th ave. Based on sheer track record motor vehicles usually stop to let me cross.
I’ve always wondered why is that?

Kristen
Kristen
9 years ago
Reply to  andysea

It’s because it’s a lot harder to stop a bike than it is to stop a car (or, more accurately, start up again). A cyclist has to physically stop, let the pedestrian go, and then start moving again. If everyone had electric assist on their bikes, I’m sure you’d see more cyclists stopping at crosswalks! :)

Richard
Richard
9 years ago
Reply to  Kristen

I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience. A lot of cyclists take the perspective that, since a bike is so narrow, it’s easy to avoid pedestrians, so it’s not necessary to stop. I disagree with this perspective myself, and always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks – but I figured it would help to at least have their perspective represented, even if flawed (imo)

calhoun
9 years ago
Reply to  Kristen

That seems like a classic rationalization to try and explain why cyclists don’t stop.

Paul on Bellevue
Paul on Bellevue
9 years ago
Reply to  Kristen

They should still stop.

jonathan
jonathan
9 years ago
Reply to  andysea

I’m sorry people on bikes haven’t been stopping for you in crosswalks. I would stop for you! Not yielding to pedestrians is just dangerous/rude/illegal etc.

R
R
9 years ago
Reply to  andysea

As a pedestrian that has lived on capitol hill for 3 years, I would say at least a quarter to a half of all cyclists have stopped for me when I have the right of way at intersections. You are being hyperbolic.

Bill
Bill
9 years ago
Reply to  R

Maybe you’re among the fortunate few. I’ve never had a cyclist stop for me in a crosswalk either. One time one even breezed by me going thru a red light; “That’s a red light,” I pointed out. “I see it,” he said. Didn’t even care.

I accompany seniors on walks around Capitol Hill; in the last year, two of them have stopped going out with me as they’re afraid of being hit by a bicyclist.

Iknowsnow
Iknowsnow
9 years ago

As a bicyclist, its horrible reading about these all too frequent collisions. I hope this young woman ( and the guy who hit an SUV earlier) recover fully.

However, PLEASE people – wear your helmet. I know they can be dorky looking, but you are supposed to wear one for a reason. It’s not unhip to keep your brains on the inside. I see far too many hipsters on bikes on Capitol Hill riding helmet-less.

BB
BB
9 years ago

The lack of a helmet did not cause the crash, an illegal U-turn by a distracted driver did.

Paul on Bellevue
Paul on Bellevue
9 years ago
Reply to  BB

I don’t think anybody is saying that not wearing a helmet caused her to crash. However, they are very good to have if you do. And I too am amazed by how many riders I see on the Hill without one. I don’t like the way mine looks on me but I also value my brain and life.

cd biker
cd biker
9 years ago

Actually yes… at least one person, PBE, did insinuate that not wearing a helmet was the cause of the accident.

@ Andysea – I don’t know where you are crossing that cars usually stop, I’d like to see that…. but as far as why cyclists may not – Remember that a cyclist traveling at legal downhill speeds has a longer stopping distance than a car, especially if it is wet out. I do my best to be a better road citizen than drivers. I stop for pedestrians myself when it is possible, but there are certainly many times that stopping for someone who steps off the sidewalk would mean at least fish tailing and at worst laying the bike down. Remember that a car can likely slam on the brakes, but a cyclist cannot without consequences, so don’t be surprised if they choose to avoid you rather than attempting to stop. Believe me, no cyclist *wants* to hit a pedestrian. Unlike a steel cage protected driver, it will hurt us as much as it hurts you.

Paul on Bellevue
Paul on Bellevue
9 years ago
Reply to  cd biker

I stand corrected, now that I’ve reread the comments I see that you are right. I understand what you are saying about stopping time, but sometimes legal speed is not necessarily prudent speed on a bike….I have had a few cyclists almost hit me while I was crossing in a clearly marked crosswalk, when the weather was nice and dry. They had plenty of time to stop, and they didn’t.

caphilllover@hotmail.com
9 years ago

Did she have a light on her bike?