King County Metro will briefly pause all bus service at 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25, for a moment of reflection and remembrance to honor the memory of transit operator Mark McLaughlin.

Hundreds of Metro and Sound Transit buses will be in service at that time, and the majority will pull over and stop for a brief moment of reflection in honor of Mr. McLaughlin, who was killed in the line of duty Nov. 27, 1998, while driving Route 359. He was shot and his bus plunged from the Aurora Bridge. One other passenger died, the shooter took his own life and 32 passengers were injured.

Mr. McLaughlin was 44 when he was killed. He joined Metro in 1979 and was a transit operator for 19 years. Coworkers called him a simple, humble man, a gentle giant who was known for handing out bubblegum to his passengers. He left behind two teenage sons.

Buses participating in the moment of remembrance will stop only where and when it is safe to do so. Buses will not pause service if they are traveling on highways or on roadways where there is no place to safely pull over.

Metro will notify riders via transit alerts and on-board announcements leading up to the moment of remembrance. In publicizing in advance our intent to pause service, Metro also extends its appreciation to riders for respecting and supporting these efforts and give our assurance that transit service will quickly restart at the conclusion of the moment of remembrance.

Reduced Thanksgiving service

Metro will operate Sunday service on Thursday, Nov. 24, returning to regular weekday service on Friday, Nov. 25. Water Taxi service is canceled for Thursday and Friday.

See details online and in printed timetables. Metro offices, including the Customer Information phone line at 206-553-3000 and Lost and Found and Pass Sales counters, will be closed Nov. 24 and 25 and will reopen Monday, Nov. 28.