KENT, Wash. — Authorities have identified the pedestrian who was struck and killed earlier this week while crossing SE 208th Street in Kent. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim as 34-year-old Shane M. O’Flynn of Renton. According to the examiner’s report, O’Flynn died of multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the collision.
The deadly incident occurred just after midnight on September 16, in the 11400 block of SE 208th Street. At approximately 12:01 a.m., Kent police responded to a 911 call about a vehicle-pedestrian crash. When officers arrived, they found O’Flynn lying in the roadway with severe injuries. He was unconscious but still breathing. Emergency crews provided CPR and other life-saving measures before transporting him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Sadly, O’Flynn later died at the hospital.
Investigators said the driver involved in the collision is a 66-year-old Kent resident. He told officers that O’Flynn suddenly appeared in the roadway as he was traveling eastbound on SE 208th Street. According to his account, O’Flynn was not in a marked crosswalk and was not visible in time for him to react. Police confirmed the driver remained at the scene, cooperated fully with the investigation, and showed no immediate signs of impairment.
At this stage, Kent police have not announced whether speed, visibility, or other factors played a role in the crash. The investigation remains active, with detectives reviewing evidence and awaiting any additional witness accounts. Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen the collision or the moments leading up to it to contact investigators, as eyewitness testimony could prove vital in reconstructing what happened.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about pedestrian safety along SE 208th Street, a roadway some residents have long described as hazardous for those on foot. While officials have not linked this particular crash to roadway design, advocates for safer streets continue to call for improvements such as better lighting, enhanced crosswalks, and traffic-calming measures to reduce the risks in high-traffic corridors.
O’Flynn’s death reflects a broader challenge facing Washington State, where pedestrian fatalities have been steadily increasing in recent years. Safety experts emphasize the importance of vigilance from both drivers and pedestrians, particularly during nighttime hours when reduced visibility heightens the danger. As investigators work toward final conclusions, the Renton community mourns the sudden and devastating loss of Shane M. O’Flynn.