Killed metro driver to be commemorated on Friday with a bus procession in the city centre

On By Littum

(Image: King County Metro)

(Image: King County Metro)

Subway driver Shawn Yim will be remembered by his city with a memorial procession of buses stretching through downtown Seattle Friday morning:

A memorial procession of several dozen buses and transit vehicles from Metro and agencies around the region is scheduled to leave Metro’s Central/Atlantic bus base at 10. The procession will travel north on Fourth Avenue to Broad Street, Fifth Avenue North, Mercer Street, Sixth Avenue North and then south in the SR 99 tunnel to Lumen Field. No personal vehicles will be included in the procession. Cross-street traffic will be temporarily held as the procession passes.

Metro says “several dozen buses and transit vehicles from Metro and agencies around the region” will participate and urges the public “to allow additional travel time due to temporary traffic delays.”

The procession is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

CHS reported here on the charges against Richard Sitzlack in the deadly December stabbing in an overnight confrontation in the University District that has led to increased calls for more to be done to protect drivers and riders on the city’s public transportation systems.

Prosecutors say Yim asked Sitzlack to leave the bus after an argument over a window on the bus. Surveillance video showed Sitzlack allegedly pepper-spraying Yim and the driver chasing him off the bus. The driver was stabbed several times and died about a block away.

Metro says it will provide “as much bus service as possible” on Friday, but to expect disruptions.

A memorial service will be held at Lumen Field Event Center 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. after the procession.

“We appreciate the many condolences and all the expressions of support shared with us as we continue to mourn Yim’s death,” The Metro announcement of today’s scheduled events read.

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