Crime & Safety
1 Dead In Semi Crash Along I-5 In Tacoma
Multiple injuries were reported as a result of the crash, which happened just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
LAKEWOOD, WA - A fatal crash in Tacoma involving a semi-truck caused massive backups up and down I-5 Thursday. The crash happened just before 11:30 a.m. near the 72nd Street overpass in Tacoma. The driver of the semi died in the four-vehicle crash; the others involved all sustained minor injuries, according to Washington State Patrol, and were not taken to the hospital.
Images from the scene showed a tractor trailer next to a dislodged shipping container; debris was strewn across both sides of the highway. For much of the afternoon, only one lane of I-5 was open in both directions. All lanes of I-5 did not reopen until 4:30 p.m., according to state police. At one point, backups were several miles long, backing up as far as the Tacoma Dome.
State police detectives were investigating the cause of the crash, and did not immediately release a cause of the crash.
Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Update: NB & SB I5 blocked at 72nd fatality collision. Multiple victims transported to hospitals. Will be at scene ASAP. 4 update
— Trooper Brooke Bova (@wspd1pio) May 11, 2017
Semi jackknifed and blocking SB I-5 lanes near exit 105. Troopers are investigating. Use alternate routes!
— Trooper Brooke Bova (@wspd1pio) May 11, 2017
Heads up Tacoma. Crash impacting NB & SB I-5. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/QOXUjNZ9jq
— WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) May 11, 2017
Image via WSDOT
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