I-405 Pileup Caused By Driver Looking At Phone : WSP

BELLEVUE, WA - A five-car pileup during rush hour in downtown Bellevue Thursday was caused by a driver distracted by his cell phone, according to Washington State Patrol.

The crash happened just before 5 p.m. near Northeast 4th Street. According to police, Sean Shewey, 27, of Redmond, was driving northbound when he failed to stop for traffic because he was looking at his phone.

Shewey crashed into a car driven by Marcella Kansanback, 37, of Ephrata, and that caused a chain reaction involving three other vehicles.

Shewey, who was driving pickup truck, was not injured in the crash. He was arrested on a vehicular assault charge.

Image courtesy Washington State Patrol