In a devastating early morning accident, a motorcyclist and his passenger lost their lives Monday when they collided with a Seattle Fire Department (SFD) truck. The incident occurred at around 3:16 a.m. at the intersection of Queen Anne Avenue North and North Ward Street.

According to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), the motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on West Prospect Street at a high rate of speed when he struck the side of the fire truck, which was traveling southbound on Queen Anne Avenue North and whose blue lights were on in response to a 911 call. The impact was severe and caused significant damage to the SFD vehicle.

Emergency personnel quickly arrived at the scene and the motorcyclist was pronounced dead. His passenger, also a man in his 30s, was immediately given medical attention by SFD personnel before being transported to Harborview Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

“This is probably one of those worst-case scenarios,” noted SPD Detective Eric Munoz during an interview at the scene. “This is an extremely difficult incident that all of our first responders have to go through.” Munoz confirmed that no SFD personnel were injured in the collision.

The intersection was closed while the SPD’s traffic accident investigation team examined the scene. Further investigations to clarify the circumstances of the accident are ongoing.

As the community mourns the loss of two lives, this tragic accident highlights the dangers on the road and the risks faced by emergency responders in the line of duty. The identities of the deceased men have not been released pending notification of their families.

Authorities urge motorists and motorcyclists alike to exercise caution and obey traffic laws, particularly in areas where emergency vehicles are in operation.