MYNORTHWEST NEWS

‘Never seen anything like it,’ says trooper after semi-truck folds car in half in collision

Nov 16, 2021, 1:33 PM | Updated: Nov 17, 2021, 11:56 am

Semi truck collision...

A semi-truck folded a car in half in a Tuesday collision on I-5. (State Trooper Rocky Oliphant, Twitter)

(State Trooper Rocky Oliphant, Twitter)

“There’s really not a word to describe this collision.” That’s according to Washington State Trooper Rocky Oliphant, after a stunning incident where a semi-truck folded a Nissan Altima in half along I-5 over the Skagit River.

WSDOT workforce shortage could mean more closed roads this winter

According to Trooper Oliphant, the semi-truck struck the Altima from behind, before eventually coming to rest on top of the flattened vehicle. “Miraculously,” there were only minor injuries reported, he noted, despite the driver of the folded car being trapped in their vehicle while awaiting rescue from responders.

The incident defied precedent for the state trooper, which was said to have occurred as a result of traffic “causing the bridge to move,” combined with an “unstable” semi-truck.

Follow traffic alerts on MyNorthwest

“In my 14 year career, I have never seen anything like it,” Oliphant said.

Traffic along the roadway was blocked for roughly 45 minutes, after a tow truck was able to lift the semi-truck enough to free the car below.

MyNorthwest News

revive I-5 tolls I-405 commute...

Nate Connors

Revive I-5 on Ship Canal Bridge to end 2 months ahead of schedule

WSDOT announced it has moved up Revive I-5's completion date to the weekend of Oct. 30, which is two months ahead of schedule.

6 hours ago

killer whale calf...

KIRO 7 News Staff

A new southern resident killer whale calf was born to J35

The Center for Whale Research announced that a new calf has been born in the southern resident killer whale population.

7 hours ago

train puyallup...

MyNorthwest Staff

Man in wheelchair killed after being hit by train in downtown Puyallup

Two people have been hit by a train in downtown Puyallup.

7 hours ago

card skimming...

James Lynch

Card skimming losses top $1 billion as Secret Service targets local fraud

The U.S. Secret Service is working in the Seattle area to find and remove illegal card-skimming devices at retailers, ATMs, and gas pumps.

8 hours ago

amazon (2)...

Julia Dallas

Amazon responds to lawsuit alleging it failed to protect employee who reported rape by senior manager

An Amazon employee is suing the company, alleging it failed to protect her after she reported that a senior manager raped her.

8 hours ago

homelessness (1)...

Luke Duecy

Seattle’s new homelessness plan aims to move people into housing. Here are the big questions

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is betting that a more coordinated approach to homelessness can get more people off the streets, but questions remain.

8 hours ago

‘Never seen anything like it,’ says trooper after semi-truck folds car in half in collision