All northbound I-5 lanes in Tacoma reopen following fatal collision, DUI arrest
Mar 18, 2022, 8:05 AM | Updated: 3:40 pm
(WSDOT Tacoma)
(WSDOT Tacoma)
All lanes of northbound I-5 are 38th Street South in Tacoma have reopened, after an hours-long closure following a fatal collision Friday involving multiple vehicles.
“As of now, I know that five cars and two semi trucks were involved in this collision,” Washington State Trooper Robert Reyer told KIRO Newsradio on Friday morning.
One person has been pronounced dead at the scene, Reyer said, while the driver of one of the semi-trucks was placed under arrest for driving under the influence.
Tacoma Fire crews are on scene and reported on Twitter that there were a total of seven patients at the scene — one fatality, one critical, two serious, one transported as a precaution, and two that were treated and released at the scene.
Combined between an ongoing crash investigation and cleanup, the closure spanned over seven hours, before lanes were reopened to traffic just after 3 p.m.
FINAL: All lanes of northbound I-5 at 38th Street in @CityofTacoma have reopened following this morning's tragic fatality involving 5 vehicles and 2 semis. Additional questions about the crash can be directed to @wspd1pio upon conclusion of the investigation. Please drive sober. pic.twitter.com/SG77VloTT7
— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) March 18, 2022
Drivers are advised to take alternate routes as backups continue to clear. WSDOT says travelers can detour via Tacoma/City Center exit and rejoin northbound I-5.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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