1 killed, 2 injured after man driving forklift causes multi-vehicle collision in north Seattle

SEATTLE — A woman was killed on Tuesday evening after a man driving a forklift caused a multi-vehicle collision in north Seattle, according to the Seattle Police Department.

Multiple witnesses called 911 at about 3:30 p.m. to report a collision near the intersection of Aurora Avenue North and North 96th Street.

A man reportedly drove a forklift onto Aurora Avenue, where he caused a collision that also involved an SUV and a landscape truck.

According to police, the man entered the roadway from the west side of the street and continued eastbound until he collided with an SUV traveling southbound. That SUV then hit the landscape truck, which was traveling northbound.

Firefighters needed to remove the SUV’s roof to access two people trapped inside, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

Both occupants of the SUV were transported to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment. The 25-year-old passenger was in critical condition at the time of transport. She later died from her injuries at the hospital. The 27-year-old male driver was transported in serious condition.

Firefighters also worked to free the 30-year-old driver of the landscape truck from his vehicle. He was transported to Harborview Medical Center via a private ambulance in stable condition.

The man who was driving the forklift was arrested at the scene. He did not need to be transported to the hospital for further treatment.

Since officers at the scene of the crash suspected the man was under the influence, they took him to the North Precinct, where a drug recognition expert evaluated him.

The man will be booked into the King County Jail for vehicular homicide.

Detectives with the SPD traffic collision investigation squad responded and will continue investigating this incident.

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