Washington Confederation of Clubs

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Pierce County: Kent motorcyclist killed in SR 512 crash Saturday night

Stephanie Clark; The News Tribune
A 57-year-old Kent man was killed on Highway 512 about 10:45 p.m. Saturday night when he was thrown off his motorcycle and hit by three cars. The accident shut down eastbound lanes until 5 a.m. this morning.
The victim identified by the Washington State Patrol as James P. Suddoth died at the scene. The Patrol said he was wearing a helmet.

Suddoth was riding a 2007 Harley Davidson Road King eastbound on Highway 512 when he changed lanes and left the roadway and struck a cable barrier. He was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on the highway near 94th Street East.

He was then struck by three vehicles. The first car described as light-colored four-door vehicle fled the accident scene. The identity of the driver is not known.

The second car was a 2003 Nissan Altima driven by a 46-year-old Vancouver man. The driver was not injured and the car had $2,500 in damage.

The third car was a 2002 Chevrolet pickup driven by a 19-year-old Bonney Lake man and had $1,000 in damage.

Neither the Bonney Lake man nor his passenger, a 46-year-old Buckley woman, were injured in the accident.

The Patrol said occupants of the Nissan and Chevrolet were all wearing seat belts. It is unknown at this time whether drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. The accident is still under investigation.