Bellevue Bicyclist ID'd After Deadly Collision In Crossroads Area

BELLEVUE, WA — The bicyclist who died last week after getting hit by a car along Northeast 8th Street was identified Monday by the King County Medical Examiner as James Ralph, 33. The medical examiner ruled Ralph's manner of death an accident, but Bellevue police are still investigating what caused the collision.

Ralph was heading westbound just before 8:30 a.m. last Wednesday near 134nd Avenue Northeast. A driver in a Prius made a right turn onto 134nd and hit Ralph. He suffered serious head injuries and died on Aug. 15 at Harborview Medical Center.

According to Bellevue police, the driver of the Prius was blinded by sunshine while making the turn.

The stretch of Northeast 8th Ralph was riding has a narrow shoulder and sidewalks, but is designated on the city's bike map as a "higher traffic street" with no bike lanes. There are no east to west bike lanes connecting neighborhoods along Lake Washington and the downtown area, according to the map.

Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify that the King County Medical Examiner ruled Ralph's manner of death an accident. That is not a determination on the investigation into the incident.