Collision with 'Eddie the eagle' startles Metro driver

BY Stephanie Klein  on August 3, 2011 @ 10:24 am (Updated: 7:28 am - 10/10/12 )

eagleIt all happened so fast for a Metro bus driver who hit 'Eddie the eagle' on the 520 bridge Tuesday morning.

Linda Thielke, spokesperson with King County Metro, told 97.3 KIRO FM's Ross and Burbank Show that the driver, who reported his story to his supervisor, had no idea the bird was an eagle.

Listen to Linda Thielke, King County Metro, discusses eagle incident

"As the bird got closer, it took off and started flying in the same direction as the bus. All of a sudden, it just made this really hard turn and turned right into the windshield," said Thielke.

The collision startled the driver, but he was able to keep his cool and continue driving across the bridge during the morning commute.

The right side of the bus windshield was cracked, but maintenance crews made repairs after the crash.

The eagle is believed to be the male of a pair that nests at the nearby Broadmoor Golf Course in Seattle. Eddie was often spotted perched on one of the bridge's light poles.

His carcass will be sent to a federal repository near Denver, which will distribute his feathers to Native American tribes for ceremonial purposes.

Thielke said she's not aware if the driver is seeking counseling for his role in the eagle's death, but "they can be relieved of duty and get counseling for any kind of issue that might be upsetting."

By Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor

Related: 520 bridge's 'Eddie the eagle' dies

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
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Comments (15)


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  • sanjuans123 wrote...
    Eddie wasn't killed
    August 3, 2011 9:45 am
    I saw Eddie this morning at 6:55am on the same post I normally see him on... the west side of the 520 bridge checking things out as usual. Eddie's back!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Market72 wrote...
    Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
    August 3, 2011 10:08 am
    Me too... Thought I saw Eddie this morning on the bridge.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fourstringfuror wrote...
    "his role in the eagle's death"
    August 3, 2011 10:35 am
    You're kidding, right? Right? His role? What role did the driver play other than being behind the wheel of a bus that hit a bird?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    say wa?!
    August 3, 2011 10:38 am
    the driver can take time off and get counseling? seriously? who pays for that? time to privatize metro. ps @ sanjuanz: the new eagle is not eddie. it's eddie's widow's new lover. women (or lady eagles in this case) are like monkeys. they always grab onto the next branch before letting go of the last.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • montanarose wrote...
    What!!!
    August 3, 2011 11:05 am
    Thielke said she's not aware if the driver is seeking counseling for his role in the eagle's death, but "they can be relieved of duty and get counseling for any kind of issue that might be upsetting."

    So I have to pay twenty more dollars for my car tabs, so the bus drivers can get counseling whenever something upsets them?? No wonder the system is running out of money. Where I grew up, if you took time off to get counseling everytime you hit an animal, you would never work. (Montana) What is with the wimpy city folks?

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  • twodjacobs wrote...
    I would like to apologize...
    August 3, 2011 12:14 pm
    as a Metro driver, I would like to apologize for the random statement made at the end of this article. It sounds ridiculous in this context. Yes, a metro driver can get relieved and get counseling for something tramatic. I am sure the bus driver is embarassed that this service would be mentioned for Eddie the Eagle. It's for hitting a child, or any human being with a 40,000 pound bus. While I am sure the driver is saddened to have any connection with the incident, he will not be asking for counseling on the "tax payers dime"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    This one Eagle, whatever it was named,
    August 3, 2011 12:22 pm
    should be held responcible for the any of the injuries from flying glass or the driver losing control of the vehicle or someone upset and traumatized by witnessing such a horrific death of this one bird. Since the bird is deceased and this is a community property state, the birds spouse or significant other should be held liable!

    I think that Eagle's should be banned from the brigde and any surface used by motorized vehicles!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    I can't
    August 3, 2011 12:23 pm
    believe this is in the "Most Popular" column. Shouldn't we be more worried about the complete and total destruction of the Dollar that is taking place? Or the road to serfdom that Emperor Obama is herding us down? Or how about the utter TREASON that was perpetrated by Congress and the Emperor with the signing of the "Dept Deal" and making the Super Congress. Don't kid yourself, that "Super Congress" is going to come and get your guns and continue the Police State Crackdown. You get what you deserve America. Years of being stupid and not paying attention to what matters...instead you watch Jersey Shore and cry for an eagle that got killed. That eagle dying should remind you that our Republic is dying.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • youhavegottobekidding wrote...
    You need to up the dosage
    August 3, 2011 3:34 pm
    on your meds. Soon.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Dog bites man story
    August 3, 2011 3:49 pm
    When I heard that “Eddie the Eagle” had died, my first thought was the ski jumper from Britain had taken the ski lift to that ski resort in the sky. Good to know that this story is only about a bird, that eats road kill, getting hit by a bus.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    The separation issue; and who pays?
    August 3, 2011 4:40 pm
    2 issues the article brings to the fore:

    The article states: "His carcass will be sent to a federal repository near Denver, which will distribute his feathers to Native American tribes for ceremonial purposes."

    Who pays for this? Washington state (taxpayers), Colorado state (taxpayers) or the Native American tribes that receive the feathers (also from taxpayers.....)? Either way I guess the taxpayers pay for it, I was just wondering 'WHICH' taxpayers are on the hook.

    Also, since the feathers will be distributed to the tribes for 'ceremonial' purposes, how does that jive with groups like the ACLU in regards to the so-called 'separation of Church and State'?

    This issue has left me quandariously perplexed. If the driver doesn't seek counseling, I think I will apply to go in his stead.......

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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