Negligent driving caused a seven-vehicle collision that blocked traffic on northbound Interstate 5 in Tumwater on Wednesday, Washington State Patrol says.
The collision occurred about 9:35 a.m., just south of milepost 103, which is near Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, according to a WSP press memo.
Troopers initially blocked the entire northbound lanes of the freeway and later allowed a single lane to open as they investigated the scene.
First responders treated two people with injuries: a 61-year-old Tenino man who was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and 62-year-old Chehalis man who was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital.
Seven other people involved in the crash did not suffer injuries, including a 38-year-old Elma man who troopers allege caused the collision. The memo indicates this man may now face a charge of second-degree negligent driving.
The Elma man traveled north on I-5 and struck a stopped vehicle in front of him, per the memo. That initial collision reportedly set off a chain-reaction that resulted in four other stopped vehicles being struck.
Debris from the collision then struck a seventh vehicle that was traveling south on I-5, just north of milepost 103, the memo reads. In all, the roadway was blocked for about four hours and forty minutes.
The two people who suffered injuries reportedly rode in the vehicle that the Elma man initially struck. All parties involved wore seat belts. State Patrol does not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved.
Trooper John Dattilo said the wreck described in the memo happened after traffic built up behind a separate two-vehicle collision up the highway. He said the two-vehicle collision did not result in serious injuries, fatalities or arrests.
“We are grateful for the patience of the drivers that were caught in the backup,” Dattilo said. “Thank you to all the motoring public for allowing us to investigate and we really do hope for a quick and full recovery for the person that was injured.”