Traffic & Transit
I-5 Crash Monday Morning: 1 Killed, Lanes Blocked
A deadly crash on I-5 in south Tacoma has killed one driver and blocked two lanes of the freeway northbound.
TACOMA, WA — A deadly crash on I-5 has blocked two lanes of the freeway early Monday, and appears likely to cause lingering traffic backups through the morning.
Update 12:30 p.m.: the remaining debris has been cleared.
Cleared: Debris on I-5 NB at MP 131.8 near S 38th St.
— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) May 10, 2021
According to WSP, at around 9:20 a.m. a driver had been changing the tire of their car on the freeway's shoulder near S 38th Street, when they were hit and killed by another vehicle.
Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Washington State Patrol, Tacoma Fire and the Washington State Department of Transportation all dispatched crews to respond to the crash.
Tough go northbound I-5 in #Tacoma after a fatality collision and another disabled vehicle resulted in delays for eastbound SR 16 travelers this morning. The disabled vehicle has been cleared, but I-5 near City Center is moving slow. @wspd1pio pic.twitter.com/xV4fdzb0KR
— WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) May 10, 2021
The driver who caused the crash has since been arrested and accused of vehicular homicide. Troopers say she admitted that she had been using her cell phone and driving distractedly when she hit and killed the other driver on the side of the road.
Find out what's happening in Lakewood-JBLMfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Driver of the vehicle is under arrest for vehicular homicide. She admitted to being distracted by her cell phone when colliding with the person changing his tire #distracteddriving #collision #stayoffyourphones #StaySafe
— Trooper Robert Reyer (@wspd1pio) May 10, 2021
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