KING COUNTY, WA — A woman driving a stolen Hyundai SUV was killed Wednesday morning after the vehicle slammed into the back of a King County Metro Transit bus in unincorporated south King County. Three passengers on the bus were injured, though authorities said their injuries were not life-threatening.
The crash happened around 7 a.m. at 277th Street and 83rd Avenue South, near Auburn and Kent. Deputies with the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and closed the road while investigators examined what led up to the collision.
Law enforcement at the scene said the SUV was speeding before it hit the bus from behind. The crash left the driver of the SUV dead at the scene.
Crash happened during the morning commute near Auburn and Kent
The collision took place in an area that serves drivers moving between south King County communities, making the closure significant for local traffic. The intersection was reported as 277th and 83rd Avenue South, in unincorporated territory near Auburn and Kent.
Because the crash occurred just after 7 a.m., it affected the morning commute, a time when buses and neighborhood roads can already be busy. Officials did not immediately say how many people were aboard the Metro bus, but they confirmed three passengers were hurt.
Those injuries were described as non-life-threatening. No additional information was released about the condition of the bus driver or whether anyone else was taken to a hospital.
Sheriff's deputies said the SUV had been reported stolen
Authorities identified the vehicle as a Hyundai SUV that had been stolen before the collision. Deputies did not say when or where it was taken, only that the car involved in the crash was stolen.
That detail is part of the sheriff’s early investigation into the wreck. At this stage, officials have focused on the speed of the SUV and the violent rear-end impact with the Metro bus.
No further details were released about the driver of the SUV beyond the fact that it was a woman. Officials have not said whether she was alone in the vehicle.
Three bus passengers were hurt but their injuries were not life-threatening
King County officials said three passengers riding the bus suffered injuries in the crash. Those injuries were described as non-life-threatening, suggesting the riders were hurt but not in critical condition.
The county did not provide names, ages, or further details about the passengers. It also did not say whether the bus driver was injured.
Transit crashes can injure riders even when the impact is from behind, especially when the striking vehicle is moving at speed. In this case, investigators said the SUV was speeding before it hit the bus.
Road closure continued while investigators examined the scene
The roadway at the crash site was closed after the wreck, and officials were still working the scene later that morning. The closure was intended to allow investigators to document the collision and clear debris safely.
The King County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Response Team is handling the investigation. That unit responds to serious crashes and collects evidence to help determine what happened and whether any violations or other factors played a role.
Authorities have not yet released a full reconstruction of the wreck. For now, the major confirmed facts are the stolen SUV, the speeding allegation, the fatal impact with the bus, and the injuries to three passengers.
Major Accident Response Team will determine how the collision unfolded
The sheriff’s office said its Major Accident Response Team is investigating, which means detectives and crash specialists will continue to review the circumstances. Their work can include measurements, witness statements, vehicle damage, and roadway conditions.
Officials have not announced any charges, and they have not said whether impairment, distraction, or another factor may have contributed. They also have not released a timeline for when the intersection will reopen.
For nearby residents and commuters, the immediate impact was the closure of a key road in south King County. For investigators, the task now is to determine how a speeding stolen SUV ended in a deadly impact with a Metro bus carrying passengers.
