Hit and run damages I-5 54th Avenue E overpass in Fife, all lanes now open

A truck hit and run damaged an I-5 overpass in Fife on Thursday morning, blocking two lanes of northbound I-5 until late afternoon.

By 3 p.m., all lanes of northbound I-5 and the 54th Avenue East bridge in Fife reopened.

The 54th Avenue East overpass was being inspected for safety through the morning, and the state Department of Transportation had warned it would be shut down until further notice. As of Thursday at 12 p.m., northbound I-5 had been reduced to three lanes, before reopening just over two hours later.

🚨 2 right lanes blocked on northbound I-5 at 54th Ave E in @fife_washington 🚧

An excavator transported by a semi struck the overpass, causing structural damage

As a result, the 54th Ave E overpass will also be shut down

Troopers and @wsdot_tacoma at the scene #TrafficAlert pic.twitter.com/Hbyx92JmN9

— Trooper Robert Reyer (@wspd1pio) March 17, 2022

After striking the overpass Thursday morning, the truck did not stay at the scene and continued northbound on I-5. Reyer says they tracked the truck by using a photo from the next weigh station.

“They were able to obtain a photo and a license plate off a truck that fits that description,” he said.

When troopers stopped the truck on I-5 near 405, the driver admitted to the accident, which also left another car with a broken windshield.

“The concrete debris that came off the overpass struck another car. That vehicle’s windshield was struck and damaged, and luckily the driver remains unharmed,” Reyer said.

The driver could be charged with a hit and run, and with violating height restrictions. But, Reyer says, the load seemed to be properly secured since nothing fell when it hit the overpass. Rather, the boom of the excavator being carried on the truck may have been too tall.

The KIRO Newsradio Newsdesk contributed to this report.

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