Bicyclist dies in Seattle hit and run; cyclist identified

The bicycle rider struck and seriously injured Thursday afternoon by a hit-and-run SUV driver in the South Lake Union area of Seattle has died.

The Medical Examiner's Office made the announcement on Friday morning.

The man was identified as Michael Wang, 44, a photographer for the worldwide health nonprofit PATH. He is survived by his wife, Claire Allen, and their two children, ages 12 and 9.

His wife told the Seattle Times that her husband regularly commuted to work from their home in Shoreline. Dexter Avenue North was on his regular route home.

Here's a link to his Michael Wang  website. The Ballard News-Tribune interviewed him in 2006.

Thursday's collision occurred at 3:45 p.m. as Wang was riding north on Dexter Avenue North in the bike lane when the SUV made the left turn onto Thomas Street. Eyewitnesses said the SUV driver stopped briefly, then continued east on Thomas.

The collision was initially reported as a fatality on Thursday, but the victim was sent to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Police are looking for a brown SUV with tinted windows and a chrome roof rack that left the accident scene.

A white ghost cycle was posted at the intersection and participants in the monthly Critical Mass bike ride passed by on their route Friday night.

It is the second bicycle-related fatality in King County in as many
weeks. Last Friday, John Przychodzen, 49, who had recently relocated to
Kirkland from Connecticut, was struck from behind by a pickup truck on
Juanita Drive in Kirkland. That crash is still under investigation.

More updates at Seattle Bike Blog.