Matt Wendland

A Burien man was rushed to Harborview Medical Center on Friday evening after being struck by a King County Metro bus while walking across a crosswalk at the intersection of S.W. 156th Street and 4th Avenue S.W. in Burien.

According to Cindi West of the King County Sheriff’s Department, the accident occurred at about 6:20pm on January 17th. Police believe that a 57-year-old Burien man who was dressed in dark clothing was crossing S.W. 156th Street on the crosswalk when the driver of a King County Metro bus on route 166 failed to see the man as the bus made a left hand turn from 4th Avenue to head east on 156th.

Because the bus did not contain an on board video system, the exact impact to the victim is unknown at this time. He sustained severe trauma to one arm that included multiple compound fractures. The man was rushed to Harborview Medical Center by emergency responders to check for internal injuries.

In a statement released by the King Country Sheriff’s Department, the Metro driver has been on the job for 34 years and is said to have been driving Route 166 for several months. At the time of the accident there was just over five people on the bus.

According to the King County Metro Supervisor on the scene of the accident, it is unclear if the victim was crossing the road when the signal read “WALK” or not.

The intersection of S.W. 156th Street and 4th Avenue S.W. has only one crosswalk over S.W. 156th Street. At the time of the accident, the intersection was prepped for upcoming contraction with a number of traffic cones, reflectors and guides directing pedestrians and drivers out of their normal lanes.

The identity and status of the victim has yet to be released to the public.