State Route 18 collision in Federal Way kills Auburn bicyclist

Matthew R. Christopher, 33, died in hospital after Nov. 7 crash

(Courtesy of the Washington State Patrol.)

(Courtesy of the Washington State Patrol.)

A 33-year-old Auburn man died in a bicycle-vehicle collision Nov. 7 on State Route 18 in Federal Way.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Auburn resident Matthew R. Christopher, 33, died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma after a vehicle collided with his bicycle on eastbound State Route 18.

The driver, a 63-year-old Tacoma man, faces no charges in the incident.

The Washington State Patrol identified the cause of the accident as the bicyclist riding the wrong way.

According to the State Patrol, the man was riding westbound in the eastbound lanes of State Route 18 and approaching Interstate 5 on the right shoulder, the bicyclist attempted to cross from the right shoulder to the gore point between the on-ramp and main line when the vehicle collided with him as it attempted to merge onto eastbound State Route 18 after exiting.

The bicyclist arrived at a stop in lane two of three. The vehicle arrived at a stop on the left shoulder.

The collision resulted in three hours and 38 minutes of roadway blockages, according to the State Patrol.




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