AUBURN, WA — A 24-year-old Kent man died Monday afternoon after a crash on southbound SR-167 in Auburn threw him from his motorcycle, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers said the motorcyclist was traveling south around 1 p.m. when he tried to change lanes and another vehicle struck the bike.
The collision forced a long shutdown of the southbound roadway near Auburn. WSDOT later said the scene was cleared at about 4:07 p.m., ending a closure that lasted more than four hours. The rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, troopers said.
Troopers say another vehicle hit the motorcycle during the lane change
Washington State Patrol said the sequence began when the rider moved to change lanes on SR-167. At that point, another vehicle hit the motorcycle, and the impact threw him from the bike. Troopers have not released additional details about the vehicles involved or the exact manner of impact.
The crash happened in Auburn, a busy corridor where SR-167 carries steady traffic through south King County. Because the collision occurred in the southbound lanes, traffic in that direction was shut down while investigators and road crews worked the scene. The closure affected drivers for much of the afternoon.
Roadway shut down for more than four hours near Auburn
All southbound lanes of SR-167 near Auburn were closed after the wreck, creating a major delay for commuters and other drivers passing through the area. WSDOT said the roadway was cleared at 4:07 p.m., which marked the end of the extended closure.
The shutdown lasted more than four hours from the time of the crash around 1 p.m. Until the scene was reopened, southbound traffic was blocked in the area as responders handled the collision and cleared debris. Officials did not provide further details about detours or the number of vehicles slowed by the closure.
The victim was a 24-year-old Kent man wearing a helmet
Troopers identified the motorcyclist as a 24-year-old man from Kent. Washington State Patrol said he was wearing his helmet when the crash happened, though the protective gear did not prevent fatal injuries.
The victim died on Monday afternoon after being thrown from the motorcycle. Authorities did not immediately release his name. The fatality turned the incident from a traffic collision into a criminal investigation, with the focus now on the driver of the other vehicle and the circumstances that led to the impact.
Driver faces vehicular homicide charges, troopers say
Washington State Patrol said the driver of the vehicle that hit the motorcycle faces vehicular homicide charges. Troopers did not identify the driver or say whether an arrest had already been made, but they made clear the case is being handled as a serious criminal matter.
Officials also said they have not determined whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash. That remains an open question in the investigation. At this stage, the information released by troopers focuses on the collision itself, the fatal outcome, and the charge tied to the other driver.
What investigators have not said yet
Several parts of the case remain unanswered. Washington State Patrol has not said whether investigators believe speed, distraction, or weather contributed to the crash. Troopers also have not provided the names of the people involved or any additional details about the other vehicle.
The department said its information came from a news release, which is the basis for the facts released so far. For now, the confirmed details are limited to the time, place, fatal outcome, roadway closure, helmet use, and the vehicular homicide charge. More information could come later as the investigation develops.
