Motorcyclist who died after crashing into Lakewood welcome sign identified
A Seattle man who died after he crashed his motorcycle into the “Welcome to Lakewood” sign following a police pursuit has been identified, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Marvin Oliva Medina, 34, died on Nov. 4 near South Tacoma Way and 100th Street Southwest in Lakewood from multiple blunt-force injuries. His manner of death was listed as an accident, the office wrote in a news release.
The chase began after King County sheriff’s deputies saw a motorcyclist matching the description of a person involved with domestic-violence charges who made threats to kill people with a gun earlier in the day. The motorcycle was believed to be stolen, The News Tribune reported.
When deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop, Medina drove off and crashed into the sign. He died at the scene, the story said.
A female passenger was on the motorcycle and taken to a hospital for injuries.
A spokesperson for the Lakewood Police Department said the passenger had a broken leg and has since been released from a hospital.
This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM.
