UPDATE: Person hit, killed on Highway 509 south of 1st Avenue South Bridge

10:23 PM: Southbound Highway 509 is blocked south of the 1st Avenue South Bridge right now after what was initially dispatched as a pedestrian fatality. The driver who hit them is reported to have stopped and was with police. No other details yet, but if you have to head this way from north of there, find an alternate route.

10:37 PM: Police have just told dispatch that State Patrol is taking over the scene.

11:42 PM: WSP confirms this was a driver hitting and killing a pedestrian and says the driver was not impaired. It appears traffic is still being guided off at the West Marginal exit.

9 AM TUESDAY: According to a media memo from WSP, the man who was hit and killed “was crossing SR 509 from east to west” when the driver, a 20-year-old Everett woman, hit him in the southbound center lane. She was not hurt. The road reopened after what was by WSP’s count 2 hours and 47 minutes.

4:16 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office daily list of identified/investigated decedents says the person who was killed was 42-year-old Raul J Vidaurri.

Jeepney September 3, 2024 (7:12 am)

How utterly tragic, I can’t begin to imagine what that motorist is going through. Love, light, and healing vibes to them.

Neighbor September 3, 2024 (1:38 pm)

While I’m sure the driver is suffering and that is sad remember that the victim is the pedestrian who is dead. Don’t forget that and their family and loved ones. The focus on the driver’s emotions betrays our bias toward car rights over human rights.
- K September 3, 2024 (2:50 pm)
  
  I think there are also assumptions about the person who passed away, based on the nearby encampments, that are turning the focus of the sympathy toward the driver.
  - WS Res September 3, 2024 (3:45 pm)
    
    Which is truly despicable.
- Anne September 3, 2024 (3:56 pm)
  
  No one is forgetting about the victim-horrific for his family & friends. To insinuate that because we also feel for this young woman driver is a bias by toward car rights is despicable. Seems your own bias is overruling common decency.
  - Neighbor September 3, 2024 (7:27 pm)
    
    Anne there is no mention of the victim at all in Jeepney’s comment. Just “love light and healing” to a person who took a life. That’s an admirable sentiment considering we don’t know the details but don’t try and gaslight me into thinking that considers the victim’s loss.
    
    Any mention of this incident without first acknowledging the victim is, to use your word, despicable.
  - AG September 3, 2024 (8:13 pm)
    
    Seconded, Anne. Apparently the anti-car frothers think that drivers lose their humanity and compassion simply by getting behind the wheel. Projection much, you self-righteous folk? And you wonder why your views don’t get traction among the rest of us. Peace be upon the victim.Peace be with the driver.And may all the anti-car grandstanders step on a Lego every day for the rest of their lives.
- Chrissy D September 3, 2024 (11:26 pm)
  
  I’m thinking that the driver was not prepared for a “pedestrian” to be in the southbound center lane of a highway. Who would be. I’m sure she is beside herself and could use some compassion.
jermaine vidaurri September 4, 2024 (9:30 am)

Ya you gotta have sympathy fire the motorists as well but my cousin can no longer see his fam we can no longer do anything with him his family is hurting and that’s a pain that will never heal

Keff September 3, 2024 (10:09 am)

Sad. Sure hope the driver doesn’t carry guilt about it forever.

Meek September 3, 2024 (2:04 pm)

Pretty disturbing that the previous comments focus on sympathy and concern for the driver, not the pedestrian or his family. I struggle to think of any other circumstance where people would automatically sympathize with the killer over the victim, even in the case of an accident. Absolutely inured as a society to the carnage inherent in our car-centered lifestyle.

Alki resident September 3, 2024 (7:04 pm)

It’s perfectly fine to mention the driver. She’s not a “ killer”, she’s a victim in this too and will never be the same. Her trauma will be her new normal for a long time unfortunately. Good thing you’ve never been through this before.
- Neighbor September 3, 2024 (10:55 pm)
  
  We don’t know the details but she is very literally a killer. She was driving. She is responsible. The attitude of a killer being a victim is why entitled drivers continue to take lives. Why are people so willing to forgive taking a life when the weapon is a car? Wake up, cars are literally killing us.
- Truth September 3, 2024 (11:06 pm)
  
  I immediately thought the same thing. Why is it so awful to sympathize for both parties involved?
  - Neighbor September 4, 2024 (1:48 am)
    
    Because in any other circumstance you wouldn’t. You have sympathy for a driver.

KD September 3, 2024 (2:10 pm)

I realize the fatality person could’ve been anyone for various reasons, but also with nearby encampments, but for many years, there has been a homeless guy that I’d see day or night, even recently middle of the night in the road at the 509/599 split or intersections. I once again had to brake hard to miss him walking in the road lane 599 side near the transfer dump station in the dark of night. He walks or stands all the time in the area, crossing the roads there. White guy, disheveled, messy dark hair and beard, thin.

jermaine vidaurri September 4, 2024 (9:38 am)

My cousin was not a homeless person he had a home

CAM September 3, 2024 (9:59 pm)

A quick google of the victim’s name indicates there is a person of the same age and name who grew up in WA and served in Iraq. I only say this because I hope that some of you may take your focus off your own agenda and think about this victim, their family, and any potential events that may have led to them being a pedestrian on a highway.

jermaine vidaurri September 4, 2024 (9:27 am)

My cousin was a great person and will be missed
- CAM September 4, 2024 (3:09 pm)
  
  I’m very sorry for your loss Jermaine and from the article I read he sounded like a wonderful person.
- Junior Jacquez September 6, 2024 (2:10 pm)
  
  Jermaine love you primo, see you on Saturday Gordy’s funeral. I saw you name on here and saw you standing up for our family. Thank you.

Sad neighbour September 3, 2024 (10:25 pm)

Thinking of all those who have been impacted by this tragedy. Heartbreaking for victim, driver, their families and response teams.

Junior Jacquez September 6, 2024 (2:14 pm)

Suck for all involved, my cousin died, our family greaves, the driver lives knowing what happened and all emergency personnel that answer the call and go to the scene.

Adam September 4, 2024 (5:50 am)

My sympathies go to the insane folks who turned this comment thread into a moment of activism against someone who felt empathy towards the innocent driver. I feel so sorry for you guys. It can’t be easy going through life like that. May you fully recover.

Estela September 4, 2024 (8:30 am)

Marine Vet

jermaine vidaurri September 4, 2024 (9:26 am)

My cousin was a great man served his country for years I spent so much time with him and his family growing he gave problems to no one r.i.p cousin gonna miss you

WS Res September 4, 2024 (9:57 am)

I’m really sorry for you and your family’s loss.
ACG September 4, 2024 (2:00 pm)

Jermaine- my condolences to you and your family as you grieve your cousin’s passing. I am sorry for your loss.

Admiral-2009 September 4, 2024 (3:27 pm)

Alki resident is correct the driver, who is also a victim, should not have been called a “killer”, this comment is way out of line in this tragic incident.

Sorry, comment time is over.