The preliminary police report on the deadly collision with a recycling truck that took the life of a bicyclist at 12th and Yesler reveals new details about what led to the tragedy and raises new questions about the city’s street and safety design in the area.
The report released to CHS by the Seattle Police Department this week reflects only the preliminary investigation including details from three people who witnessed the Monday, June 1st crash that took the life of Christian Salyer.
A larger SPD Traffic Collision Investigation Squad investigation was being conducted to determine any fault in the incident.
The Recology recycling truck driver was evaluated for impairment at the scene. No citations were issued.
According to the just released report, the driver told police he was turning the large truck right onto Yesler from 12th Ave when he “heard people shouting.”
SPD says both the truck driver and the bicyclist were headed southbound on 12th Ave before the 4:30 PM crash. From the driver and witness accounts, SPD says the light was green “changing to yellow.”
According to the police report, Salyer was attempting to ride through the intersection when the collision occurred.
The arriving officer reported the rider had suffered “grave injuries” including crush injuries.
Salyer, 30, died at the scene.
Last Saturday, riders, walkers, loved ones, and community members gathered at the intersection to place a memorial “ghost bike” and remember Salyer as a Thurgood Marshall Elementary teacher and cyclist.
The rally also was a reminder of ongoing community efforts led by Central Seattle Streets For All that have pushed for better designs and safety features in the area where the two busy arterials meet including a 2019 plan that scrapped a protected bike lane along 12th Ave and more Seattle Department of Transportation promises made as part of the 2024 levy.
The push for the protected lane has continued.
SDOT made its latest update on the sprawling “12th Ave Vision Zero Safety Corridor” plan that stretches all the way from E Aloha to S Weller in January saying the project was being focused on the stretch between E Yesler Way and S Weller.
“This area has a high number of crashes, including serious ones,” the five-month-old update reads.
SDOT says it has been “analyzing traffic data and modeling preliminary design alternatives” and plans community discussions about any changes through the end of this year and into next. Construction on the resulting designs in the Yesler to Weller “Phase 2” of the project isn’t slated to take place until “late 2027.”
SPD says the TSCI investigation is ongoing. “Investigations like these take an extended period due to warrants, reconstruction, and various other items that are very time intensive,” a department spokesperson tells CHS.
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