A 68-year-old man was killed in Kent after being struck by a motorcycle while trying to walk across Pacific Highway South at about 8:43 p.m. Tuesday.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as William L. Smith. Initial reports from the Kent Police described the man as being age 19, but officials later corrected that error.
Smith attempted to cross in the 23400 block of Pacific Highway South on the West Hill, just south of the Kent Des Moines Road intersection, according to a Kent Police media release.
As Smith crossed the busy highway on the rainy night, he stepped into the path of a southbound motorcycle. The motorcyclist was unable to avoid the collision, striking and knocking Smith to the ground. The impact also knocked the motorcycle to the ground.
Paramedics worked to revive the pedestrian. He was eventually pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics transported the motorcyclist to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“He just walked across the lanes right in front of the motorcycle,” said Sgt. Robert Constant.
Constant said witnesses reported that Smith didn’t appear to be crossing the street for any particular reason. Smith was a transient, Constant said.
Kent Police closed a section of the highway for several hours to conduct their investigation. Police found no evidence to suggest that drugs or alcohol contributed to the collision or that the motorcycle was traveling at an excessive speed.
The accident occurred just south of a fully marked and controlled crosswalk.
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