Police: Driver who killed Seattle cyclist may have been chatting Vehicular homicide charge filed in Georgetown crash

A Seattle driver suspected fatally ramming a cyclist while chatting on his cellphone has been charged with vehicular homicide.

King County prosecutors claim Michael Jordan hit and killed Darren Fouquette nearly a year ago in Georgetown. Investigators contend Jordan, 22, was certainly speeding and may have been on his phone when the wreck occurred.

Police estimate Jordan was speeding at 73 mph at 6:30 a.m. on May 30 when his Nissan Maxima slammed into Fouquette, 46. The speed limit in the 9400 block of Airport Way South – where Fouquette was hit – is 45 mph.

Moments before the deadly crash, Jordan was approaching a semi from behind. The truck pulled into the left lane to pass Fouquette, a Seattle detective said in charging papers, and Jordan swung into the right lane hoping to pass the truck.

Spotting Fouquette at the last moment, Jordan pulled the emergency brake in a futile attempt to stop, the detective continued. The car hit Fouquette’s bicycle, sending the cyclist flying.

Fouquette was rushed to Harborview Medical Center on First Hill, where he died the following day.

Writing the court, a Seattle detective said cellphone records show Jordan was talking “at or near” the time of the crash. Jordan did not have car insurance when the crash occurred.

Jordan is alleged to have been driving recklessly when the crash occurred. He was booked into King County Jail on March 31, and remains jailed on $50,000 bail.

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Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.