A person riding a bicycle on Juanita Drive in Kirkland died Friday afternoon after a truck struck him from behind before crashing into a utility pole. It does not appear the 18-year-old driver was using a cell phone or impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident, according to police.
The victim’s name has not yet been released, but police said he was in his 40s or 50s, according to the Seattle Times.
He was riding north around 3:45 p.m. on NE Juanita Drive near 86th Ave NE, part of the popular Lake Washington Loop bicycle route.
Condolences to his friends and family.
UPDATE 7/25: The victim has been identified as John Przychodzen, 49, according to Detective O’Neil from the Kirkland Police Department. The investigation will not be completed until next week, but police still do not suspect drugs, alcohol or cell phone use were involved.
“It might have been a freak tragic accident,” said O’Neil.
Comments
4 responses to “Person cycling in Kirkland dies after truck strikes him from behind”
Terrible. For a rider who fell with miles ahead. For the family and friends who have lost a loved one. And for an 18 year who has to carry this for the rest of his life, whether he was at fault or not.
I rode this way Thursday evening and was thinking that the drivers were being unusually courteous and attentive. But it doesn’t take more than one careless moment. Be safe, all.
I agree with Jim. It only takes one careless moment — whether you are the one behind the wheel of an automobile or the one behind the handle bars of a bike. It’s moments like these we should all remind ourselves of when out riding.
maybe Kirkland will extend bike lanes along all commuter roads instead of halfway, and only on one side of a road. so frustrating for both bikers and drivers at the same time. My heart goes out to the familys on both sides of this horrible accident. Jim is 100% right.
“Freak accident”? There are few true freak accidents – when a tree falls on you on a nice day, that is a freak accident. When a car runs over a cyclist, it is mistake, not an accident. The things that contribute to cyclist deaths – too much speed, too much alcohol, lack of attention, lack of experience, lack of road or automobile maintenance, lack of cycling infrastructure – these are not freak occurrences. They are the direct result of choices made by individuals and by the community that crystalize in one instance that kills somebody.