I-5 in Lakewood snarled after truck hits bridge and forklifts go flying
A semi truck struck a railroad bridge over Interstate 5 in Lakewood on Wednesday night, sending its cargo of forklifts sliding over the roadway, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Traffic in the southbound lanes is jammed as crews work to clear the wreckage just north of Bridgeport Way.
The wreck occurred at 6:02 p.m. Some debris went into the northbound lanes, said WSP trooper Ryan Burke.
There were no injuries.
All southbound lanes were closed as the forklifts were cleared from the roadway. Two lanes were still closed just before 7 p.m., Burke said.
The cargo was apparently too tall for the bridge, which has a clearance of 14 foot, 11 inches. Washington state law allows vehichles and cargo to be only 14 feet high.
“That bridge has been it so many times since I’ve been doing this job,” Burke said. He’s been a trooper for 12 years.
The truck was hauling the forklifts from Seattle to Vancouver, Wash. The driver, a 51-year-old man from La Center, was cited for negligent driving.
The two left southbound lanes were closed while hydraulic fluid from the forklifts is cleaned up, Burke said.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 7:06 PM.
