video by @KING5Seattle
A northbound semi truck on I-5 in Lakewood, Washington, collided with a jersey barrier, causing it to tip over and the cab to strike an overpass near exit 127. This incident led to considerable traffic disruptions, as lanes were reduced while emergency personnel worked to clear the area.
The semi truck's cab was initially hanging off the overpass but was removed within 20 minutes. Photojournalist Louis Sierra captured a closer view of the scene from the I-5 northbound side. Although the cab was cleared from the overpass, the area remains active as crews continue to work on removing the rest of the vehicle.
Washington State Patrol stated that the next significant task involves not only safely extracting the semi from the highway but also examining the overpass for possible damage caused by the dangling cab. The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, though driver fatigue may have been a contributing factor.
According to the State Patrol, the semi truck veered to the right while traveling northbound on I-5, hit a jersey barrier, and the impact caused the cab to elevate. The trailer then flipped onto its side, and the momentum propelled the cab forward and upward. Traffic was confined to one lane approaching the accident site, resulting in substantial delays during the Thursday morning rush hour.
At the time of the accident, the semi truck was transporting tortilla chips. The driver was taken to Saint Joe's Hospital nearby and is expected to make a full recovery. It is estimated that it may take another 90 to 120 minutes for the scene to be completely cleared and traffic to return to normal.
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