Motorcyclist dead after striking vehicle trying to make U-Turn in Pierce County
A 21-year-old motorcyclist was killed Wednesday night in Pierce County after striking a vehicle that was trying to make a U-Turn.
The Burien man was riding his motorcycle on northbound state Route 167, also known as River Road, near the Gratzer Road intersection between Puyallup and Tacoma. A 49-year-old Seattle man who was driving his 2011 Land Rover was going the same direction, but in a different lane, according to Washington State Patrol in a news release. There was a 38-year-old woman in the passenger seat of his car.
When the Seattle man tried to make a U-Turn, the motorcyclist hit the car at around 8:50 p.m., the release said. The motorcycle landed in a ditch after the crash.
The Burien man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Seattle man and woman were not injured. It is unclear if the driver will face charges.
The release said that speed was the cause for the crash. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved.
The roadway was blocked for three hours and 45 minutes.
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 8:03 AM.
