All lanes reopen after semi truck collision blocks all SB I-5 traffic in Tacoma

A collision involving two semi trucks on I-5 in Tacoma blocked all southbound lanes, and two northbound lanes, of the freeway during the Tuesday morning commute.

All lanes were reopened at 10:20 a.m.

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The incident occurred around 6:44 a.m. near Yakima Avenue close to SR16 at mile post 133. The Washington State Patrol reports that a blue semi trick was traveling too fast on the wet roadway as it approached a curve in the road — it was attempting to pass traffic.

“We have two different semis involved in this collisions … witnesses report he was attempting to pass a semi traveling approximately 55 mph on the wet pavement as you approach the curve,” said Trooper Johnna Batiste with the Washington State Patrol. “During his attempt to pass that traffic, he was traveling too fast on the wet roadway and lost control of the semi. His container swung out around him, perpendicular to the road, causing all of southbound I-5 to be blocked. And his tractor actually struck the tractor of the semi he was attempting to pass. Thankfully neither driver was injured.”

Another truck crashed into the trailer. No injuries were reported. The causing semi truck driver will receive a citation.

The trailer was left straddling a barrier between the southbound lanes and a construction zone. Diesel was spilled on the roadway and was cleaned up. The road barrier was also being replaced. Two northbound lanes were initially blocked by emergency crews responding to the scene. Those lanes opened around 9:20 a.m.

🔹barrier between construction zone and southbound was struck, currently being replaced
🔹2 left lanes NB are blocked for crews cleaning up diesel pic.twitter.com/vjuz5zxX07

— Trooper Johnna Batiste (@wspd1pio) December 11, 2018

Southbound traffic was diverted around the scene to the 38th Street collector-distributor lanes. Drivers were using the lanes to get around the disruption, but it created a bottleneck and movement was slow.

“That is not built to handle all of southbound I-5 traffic, so it is going to be slow going through that area,”Trooper Batise said. “And obviously taking surface streets to get around the crash and get back on around 38th Street or 56th Street.”

This is going to be blocking for awhile. Troopers and @wsdot_tacoma are working to get vehicles turned around that are caught in between the scene and the detour. pic.twitter.com/tzAPaRhbrM

— Trooper Johnna Batiste (@wspd1pio) December 11, 2018

Trooper Batiste notes that the speed limit on the freeway is 60 mph, however, she points out that isn’t recommended under rainy conditions.

“It’s not necessarily the speed limit, you’re driving for what your vehicle can handle,” Trooper Batiste said. “Sixty miles per hour may be the speed limit, but obviously if it’s snowing or we got a wet roadway, that speed limit may not be appropriate.”

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