Fatal wreck shuts down southbound I-5 through Tacoma
A fatal multi-vehicle accident snarled traffic on southbound Interstate 5 through Tacoma Friday night. Vehicles were diverted off the freeway.
The wreck, just north of South 84th Street, occurred shortly before 4:50 p.m.
A semi-trailer was involved in the accident, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Ryan Burke.
Burke said the truck driver was traveling in the far right lane when he came upon slowing traffic. In an attempt to avoid it, he swerved into another lane.
The semi then jack-knifed and struck cars in both lanes.
The driver of one of the cars, a Tacoma woman, 81, was killed. Authorities withheld the name pending notification of relatives.
The semi jack-knifed across travel lanes, Burke said.
Traffic was diverted onto 72nd Street and then re-entering I-5 at 84th Street. The roadway was blocked for just under six hours.
This story was originally published February 26, 2021 at 6:28 PM.
