A 74-year-old Auburn man died Sunday from injuries after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a jeep at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday near Lake Meridian Park on Kent’s East Hill.
Ronald C. Kipling died in the accident, according to a Monday report by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Paramedics transported Kipling to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a Saturday Kent Police media release. Kipling died Sunday at the hospital, according to an email from Kent Police Lt. Pat Lowery.
Kent Police responded to the crash just outside the park’s main gate in the 14700 block of Kent Kangley Road, also known as Southeast 272nd Street. Officers found Kipling with injuries to his head and torso.
Kent firefighters worked to stabilize Kipling prior to transporting him to Seattle. The driver of the second vehicle, a 19-year-old Auburn man, was not injured.
Crash investigators determined that the motorcyclist was traveling west along Kent Kangley Road in the outside lane. Witnesses indicated that he was moving with the flow of traffic. An eastbound Jeep started a left turn from the center turn lane, turning toward the park entrance on the north side of Kent Kangley Road. The Jeep crossed the path of the motorcycle, causing the motorcycle to strike the right front fender of the Jeep. Both vehicles came to a stop in the street.
The driver of the Jeep is cooperating with Kent Police traffic investigators and neither driver is suspected of being intoxicated or impaired. Several witnesses to the accident have confirmed that speed was not a factor for either vehicle.
“During the summer months this area becomes very busy for drivers,” Lowery said. “Motorists must use extra caution when traveling through heavily congested areas such as parks and other outdoor gathering areas.”
The scene of the collision was cleared and traffic returned to normal around 8 p.m. Saturday.
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