Ragnar Events sued over fatal runner death on Whidbey Island

The family of Hui “Michael” Li is suing Ragnar Events and its parent company, FitLab, following a fatal accident during the Ragnar Road Northwest Passage relay race on July 12, 2025. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in Island County Superior Court, alleges that the race organizers negligently designed the course and failed to protect participants from traffic.

According to the complaint, Li, a 55-year-old from British Columbia, was struck from behind by a truck while running southbound on the shoulder of Highway 20 near Frostad Road. The lawsuit contends that Ragnar should have directed runners to face oncoming traffic, a practice described as an industry safety standard and a legal requirement for pedestrians on roadway shoulders. The family argues that running toward traffic would have allowed drivers to see Li’s headlight, flashlight, and reflective gear. Li died after being transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.