Crash I-5
A Snohomish County Sheriff's deputy is hospitalized after a motorcycle crash on southbound I-5 near Smokey Point. (Washington State Patrol/Trooper Keith Leary)

Deputy injured in motorcycle crash on I-5

BY Josh Kerns  on November 21, 2012 @ 9:07 am (Updated: 12:29 pm - 11/21/12 )

A Snohomish County Sheriff's deputy is recovering after crashing his motorcycle, blocking all lanes of traffic on southbound I-5 Wednesday morning near Smokey Point (at 156th St. NE).

Trooper Keith Leary says the deputy was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center while officers directed a single lane of traffic through the congestion. The deputy, who has been with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office for five years, is in stable condition with minor injuries.

The accident at 8:15 a.m. caused a six mile backup on I-5 from the Stillaguamish River to milepost 206. Troopers reopened the interstate around 11:00 a.m. and the congestion cleared about an hour later.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. Witnesses say they saw the deputy's motorcycle lose control and flip off the road.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (17)


  • Add A Comment

  • Amorget wrote...
    Drove past this today
    November 21, 2012 8:38 am
    What a mess. I've seen this guy out there ruining people's morning commutes in that area for a long time. Crazy he decided today was a good day to patrol on his motorcycle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    I can see the morning meeting with the sargent.
    November 21, 2012 10:37 am
    Sargent: Lots of flooding today with water over the roadway. Maybe you should take a cruiser out for patrol.

    Macho deputy: Naw, cars are for sissies, I'm going to ride my hog.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    I rode for years "full time" in all kinds of weather.
    November 21, 2012 10:49 am
    A motorcycle has the same footprint on the road as a 9 1/2 D track shoe. Add a little oil or anything else and it's all over.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike Hunt wrote...
    Revenue over safety
    November 21, 2012 11:57 am
    This is a result of this state putting the taking more money from the taxpayers over the safety of the taxpayer.

    The state needs to rein in the agressive actions/driving of the patrol and get them back focused on public safety. Not only are they putting the public in danger (using this example), but it unnecessarily creates gridlock

    While I'm glad the officer is ok, he is also an idiot for patroling on a bike (where fast acceleration/deceleration is required) under these conditions, and should be teminated for a lack of common sense

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Skykomish2 wrote...
    Ya gotta love AJ...
    November 21, 2012 1:24 pm
    He's SO good at proving just how much of a dunce he is that no one takes him seriously. Here again, his stupidity shows through with shining colors. He just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    AJ's a very lucky man.
    November 21, 2012 1:34 pm
    I mean, how many trolls have found a bridge to live under that offers an internet connection. Again, AJ, you're a waste of life, do the community a favor and post elsewhere. If only we could present motions to some sanctioning body to have posters here banned... Anyway, I agree that is was a poor judgement call to be on a bike on a day like today, but will reserve any indecent comments for someone who could have been very seriously hurt. Sympathy is a much more admirable trait than hiding behind the skirt of annonimity the internet offers and talking down about others to build myself up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Classic Case for Police.
    November 21, 2012 1:29 pm
    Police on motorcycle's need to put Kick stand in the down position when exiting bike. I have told them this at least a million times?.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JustAnotherFish wrote...
    Minor Injuries = Airlift?
    November 21, 2012 1:39 pm
    Civilians probably wouldn't get that kind of treatment...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drives wrote...
    Airlift
    November 21, 2012 2:12 pm
    Wow
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BikeNazi wrote...
    They lose control of their motorcycles, they lose control of their guns, they lose control of their tempers
    November 21, 2012 2:49 pm
    And people get seriously injured and die. Do you really want these clowns responsible for meting out "justice" on their own terms? These guys aren't heroes. Someone tell Ron and Don these guys are very dangerous to society.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • murr wrote...
    I guess this case was not reckless driving
    November 21, 2012 3:23 pm
    It was the wet streets, ohh yea he is a public offcial. Thats what makes it out of his conrtol. When a gun goes off, its that -amm gun, not the operator, The evil gun did it. Ban motorcycles, and this would never happen. Makes sense right.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ernie in the East wrote...
    Jumping to conclusions
    November 21, 2012 4:29 pm
    Why is it that people jump to conclusions before all the information is in? According to the story, none of us have any idea how fast (or slow) this officer was going this morning, we have nothing. So stop with the speculations, a man is in the hospital trying to recover. As far as AJ is concerned, really?! I would certainly like to think that you aren't trying to be taken seriously but somehow that's doubtful. I happen to know some law enforcement personnel and they are indeed real people, and will rise above the slop that you are spewing about them and when you are in an accident or other place where their services are needed they will assist you without question, for it is their duty and most hold that in high regard. Too bad you don't. I've seen you post often here and have agreed with much of what you have said but here we are as opposite as night and day. You've got some serious twisted, warped thinking about our men and women in blue. Sad, no tragic, really tragic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Amorget wrote...
    Read the other article
    November 21, 2012 6:35 pm
    http://mynorthwest.com/174/2134595/Snohomish-County-motorcycle-deputy-crashes-on-I5 He wrecked all by his lonesome self, that means he was driving too fast for conditions and any other motorcyclist would be ticketed as such.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }