A 59-year-old Chehalis woman died early Wednesday morning, July 30, 2025 after her car struck a disabled towing rig on southbound I-5 near 272nd Street in Federal Way (map below), according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
Troopers said the crash occurred around 12:56 a.m., when a Ford tow truck towing a flatbed became disabled in lanes two and three of the five-lane freeway just north of the 272nd Street exit.
Sadly, a 59-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. WSP confirmed she had been wearing a seat belt. No other injuries were reported.
All southbound lanes of I-5 were blocked for about five hours for the investigation.
Here’s how the fatal crash unfolded:
A southbound tow truck on I-5 near 272nd Street became disabled in lanes two and three while towing a flatbed truck.
A car traveling southbound struck the rear of the towed flatbed vehicle around 12:56 a.m.
The driver of the car that struck the tow truck died at the scene.
The tow truck driver and passenger were not injured.
Washington State Patrol reported that drugs or alcohol were not involved.
Charges against the tow truck driver are pending.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but WSP said drugs or alcohol were not involved.