One killed, one hurt in cougar attack near North Bend; just second fatal encounter in a century

KING COUNTY, Wash. -- One person is dead and another hospitalized after a cougar attack in the foothills near North Bend, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

Sgt. Ryan Abbott said Saturday the two people were on a mountain bike ride in North Bend, 30 miles east of Seattle, when the attack occurred.

The injured victim, a 31-year-old man, was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, but has since been upgraded to satisfactory condition.

No details on the person who died have been released.

Capt. Alan Myers of the state's Fish & Wildlife Police says agents using a hound-dog tracker shot and killed the cougar shortly before 3 p.m., the Seattle Times reported.

Officials say there has only been one other fatal cougar attack in Washington State in the last century.

Over the same time period, 15 incidents have resulted in injuries.

This is a developing story and will be updated.