Motorcyclist killed in collision at South Hill intersection on SR 161, troopers say
A 39-year-old motorcyclist died in a vehicle wreck Monday evening when he reportedly ran a red light at an intersection in South Hill and struck a pickup, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The collision occurred shortly after 8 p.m. on state Route 161 at 144th Street East, about a mile-and-a-half south of Puyallup city limits, WSP said in a news release. Troopers said the motorcyclist, a Kent man, was riding north toward 144th Street and ran the light when a westbound driver was going through the intersection.
The motorcycle came to a rest in the intersection, and the vehicle the rider struck stopped on the sidewalk of 144th Street. Trooper Robert Reyer said on Twitter that the wreck shut down the intersection while the incident was investigated.
Troopers, the Washington State Department of Transportation and Central Pierce Fire & Rescue responded to the scene, Reyer said. The motorcyclist was declared dead at the scene, and the pickup driver, a 37-year-old Puyallup man, was transported to MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital to be treated for injuries. Troopers said the motorcyclist had been wearing a helmet.
The cause of the crash was determined to be failure to obey the traffic signal, according to the news release. Troopers said drugs or alcohol were not suspected to have been factors. The roadway was blocked for about two hours.
This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 8:19 AM.
