Motorcyclist involved in crash suspected of drunken driving

Published 10:04 am Tuesday, July 29, 2008

SNOHOMISH – The Monroe man involved in a serious motorcycle crash Monday night along U.S. 2 has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, police said.

The man, 31, allegedly was riding the motorcycle without a valid license and didn’t have a motorcycle endorsement, Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said today. Police suspect he was driving under the influence.

Around 9:30 p.m., the motorcycle the man was riding with a passenger on the back fell to the ground when he tried to avoid a car making a left turn off U.S. 2 at Roosevelt Road, he said.

His passenger, a Bothell woman, 29, was taken by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where she remained in intensive care this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The motorcycle rider was taken to Valley Medical Center where police drew blood to determine his blood alcohol level.

The driver of the pickup truck involved in the crash was not injured.