A pedestrian died Sunday after being struck by a semi-truck at a busy intersection in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood within the Chinatown-International District.
Seattle Police responded to the collision at 12th Avenue South and South King Street at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, where they found a man with life-threatening injuries. Seattle Fire Department paramedics transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police have not released the victim’s age or identity pending family notification and completion of the investigation.
Officers evaluated the semi-truck driver at the scene and determined that impairment was not a contributing factor in the fatal collision. No arrests were made following the incident.
The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad has assumed responsibility for the case, with investigators utilizing footage captured by Real Time Crime Center cameras positioned at the intersection. The surveillance video is expected to provide crucial evidence in determining the circumstances that led to the fatality.
The intersection of 12th Avenue South and South King Street serves as a major thoroughfare connecting the Chinatown-International District to other parts of Seattle. The area experiences heavy pedestrian traffic due to its proximity to community services, businesses, and residential areas.
Fatal pedestrian accidents involving commercial vehicles highlight ongoing safety concerns in urban areas where large trucks navigate streets designed primarily for passenger vehicles. The size and weight differential between semi-trucks and pedestrians make such collisions particularly devastating.
Seattle has implemented various traffic safety measures in recent years, including enhanced crosswalk signals and reduced speed limits in high-pedestrian areas. However, the intersection of commercial vehicle traffic and foot traffic continues to present challenges for transportation planners.
The investigation will likely examine factors including traffic signal timing, visibility conditions, pedestrian crossing patterns, and vehicle operations to determine how the fatal collision occurred.
This marks another tragic reminder of pedestrian vulnerability in Seattle’s dense urban environment, where multiple transportation modes share limited street space.
