UPDATE | The King County Medical Examiner has identified the woman killed after exiting a King County Metro bus Thursday evening as Nancy Biladeau, a Bellevue resident.

Original story is below

Bellevue police are investigating the death of a 48-year-old Bellevue woman after she became stuck in the wheel well of a King County Metro bus Thursday evening.

The woman exited her regular route at approximately 6:30 p.m. near Northeast 10th and Northup Way, and when the bus drove away, the driver heard a noise, police said. The driver immediately stopped the bus and found the woman lying in the roadway.

Police and medics arrived on scene and attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead.

The road was closed for investigation Thursday evening. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor, but police are administering tests to the bus driver.

King County Metro spokeswoman Linda Thielke said the driver was taken to Overlake Medical Center for shock, as well as the drug and alcohol testing. The 60-year-old driver is a 27-year veteran of the organization, with only four minor accidents on his record (i.e. damaged mirrors from getting to close to signs or other things).

Thielke said accidents have been at historic lows over the last two years. In 2010, with more than 48 million miles traveled, King County Metro recorded 420 preventable accidents, with 460 in 2011.

“It’s just such a sad thing,” Thielke said. “We put safety first.”