Skateboarder dies in collision with Metro bus in U-District

A young man riding his skateboard in the street in the University District died early this morning after he collided with a Metro bus, police said.

The crash occurred about 1:20 a.m. when a bus, traveling south on University Way Northeast, crossed paths with the 19-year-old victim who was headed west on Northeast 45th Street, police said. The bus had a green light, Seattle police spokeswoman Reneé Witt.

The skateboarder ran into the side of the bus and fell under the rear wheels, she said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim, Chase Anderson, of Bellevue, was a business major at the University of Washington and on the dean's list this year.

This afternoon, his father, Frank Anderson, sat on the concrete front steps of their Yarrow Point home near Highway 520, rested his head in his hands and cried.

"It's not supposed to happen," he said. "God, we were so lucky to have Chase."

Throughout the day, the drive and road leading to the house were filled with cars and people coming and going, bringing flowers and trying to console one another.

Chase Anderson was born in La Jolla, Calif., and the family moved to the Seattle area when he was about in the second grade for business reasons, his father explained. Along with his father, he's survived by his mother, Tricia, and two brothers, Taylor, 17, and Jack, 9.

He went to Clyde Hill Elementary School, Chinook Middle School and Bellevue High School, but that doesn't even begin to touch the essence of his life, his father added.

"He was so loved," his father said. "God, he just loved life. He was as happy as he could be." Chase Anderson had been accepted to the UW business school as a freshman, his father said, an almost-unheard-of accomplishment, and was interested in alternative fuels and a wide range of other subjects.

"He never had anything bad to say about anybody," said his father. "He was just starting to make his mark. He was our absolute pride and joy. His mother is just devastated."

The outpouring from the community has been overwhelming and the family is particularly concerned about the bus driver involved in the crash, who apparently was not at fault in the tragedy, his father said.

The bus, Route 71, was headed toward the South Lake Union neighborhood during its last run of the night and had one passenger, said King County Metro Transit spokeswoman Linda Thielke.

"The bus driver didn't know that anything had happened until the police stopped her about a block away," Thielke said.

The driver, 46, has been employed for nearly four years, she said, and has had no accidents. She added that the driver "needs some time off" and is now on paid administrative leave.

"She's [shaken] up, it's a very tragic accident, certainly for the young man and also for anyone who witnessed it."

The intersection and a two-block radius around it were closed for several hours while police investigated. There were no other reported injuries, Witt said. Students at Bellevue High learned about Anderson's death this morning.

"Everybody knew Chase," said Benedicta Kanongataa, a senior.

"I've known him since the fourth grade," said Danny Razore, also a senior. "He was funny, smart, easygoing; never anybody you'd get mad at."

Razore played in three sports with Anderson, and Anderson commonly beat him, he added. He said Anderson also excelled scholastically.

Razore said he last saw Anderson about two weeks ago while visiting the UW to see a basketball game.

"He seemed like he was loving life. He loved college. He loved the fraternity," said Razore.

Anderson also loved to ride his skateboard, Razore said.

"He was always longboarding in his sandals," said Razore. "He was like a beach boy. We called him 'Sunshine.' "

Bellevue High Principal David Wellington said a vigil will be held on the school football field at 8:30 tonight to help the community deal with the loss.

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com