Man hit, killed by Community Transit bus while crossing highway in Lynnwood
All lanes of southbound State Route 99 in north Lynnwood were closed after a Community Transit bus killed a man who was crossing the highway Wednesday morning.
The Washington State Patrol said the crash happened in the southbound lanes just north of 156th Street Southwest shortly after 6 a.m.
Troopers said the victim was a 34-year-old man, whose identity has not been released since his next of kin is still being notified. Trooper Kelsey Harding says the man was wearing all black, was practically invisible, and was in the middle of the highway. By the time the bus driver saw him, it was too late.
“There was nothing they really could’ve done. They didn’t see them. It’s not like they could’ve tried to swerve, because by the time you see them, it’s too late,” Harding said.
Those who live in the area say SR-99 can be a dangerous highway for pedestrians, especially since some say a lot of people aren’t using the crosswalks.
“Unfortunately, you see people walk across this road all the time and there are crosswalks, but they’re way far apart and nobody uses them. People just walk across all the time,” Matt, who lives in Lynnwood, said.
KIRO7 asked Community Transit how the bus driver involved was doing. A spokesperson told us they cannot comment at this time.
WSP says the bus driver has been cooperating with investigators.
