A Bellevue police officer is in the intensive care unit after he fell up to 60 feet onto Interstate 5 on Tuesday while on service detail for Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade during her visit to Seattle.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday, the 39-year-old motorcycle Officer Kevin Bereta “went out of control for an unknown reason,” according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson. He was ejected off his motorcycle, Bellevue police said.
The motorcycle stayed on the Michigan Street onramp and the officer fell 50 to 60 feet onto the southbound lanes of Interstate 5. He was conscious and alert when he was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he was in critical condition on Wednesday, according to the Bellevue Police Department.
“Somehow, by the grace of God, he was not struck,” said Meeghan Black, a Bellevue police spokesperson. “Washington State Patrol will be investigating what and how the hell that happened.”
There were no other vehicles involved, and the onramp was closed as part of the motorcade route, Johnson said.
Traffic was momentarily stopped along southbound I-5 so the officer could be taken to the hospital. He suffered multiple injuries.
Bereta joined the department in 2018 and transferred to the traffic division as a motorcycle officer in 2020.
The vice president called Bellevue police Chief Wendell Shirley to check on Bereta and to express her concern for him and his family, according to the Police Department.
Harris’ visit to Seattle caused massive delays throughout the city Tuesday afternoon, temporarily closing I-5 in both directions, among other roads.
Seattle Times staff reporters Vonnai Phair and David Gutman contributed to this story.