Roadway back open after 3 semi, 2 car crash blocked I-5 in Pierce County
Update, 3:45 p.m.: The roadway was cleared about 3:10 p.m.
Update, 2:36 p.m.: The latest from WSDOT on X: “Four lanes open on SB I-5 in Fife. We’re working as quickly and safely as we can to open the road for travelers. Give our crews a brake an take it slow near the scene. We’re still working in Lane 1 and on the off ramp.”
Update, 1:27 p.m.: The latest from WSDOT on X: “We now have two lanes open on SB I-5 at 54th Ave. We’re still working on clean-up in the remaining closed lanes to get them back open.”
Update, 11:56 a.m.: Troopers report that one of the semi-trucks has been towed from the scene. WSDOT says it will take some time to remove the other two. Backup has reached eight miles.
“Before we can open more lanes on SB I-5 in Fife we need to clean up spilled oil on the roadway. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible. The HOV remains open to all. Current backup is 8 miles,” WDOT posted on X about 12:10 p.m..
Original post: A crash involving three semi-trucks and two cars has blocked southbound Interstate 5 near the 54th Avenue interchange in Fife, the Washington State Patrol reported.
The wreck occurred about 9:05 a.m. and blocked four lanes. Traffic was getting by only in the HOV lane, state troopers said.
“What happened: a semi truck was attempting to change lanes when it struck another semi. In total three semi trucks are involved, two of them rolled onto their side,” state trooper John Datillo wrote in a X post. “Two cars were also involved, one was struck by a semi and another was struck by debris.
“One rolled semi truck is empty, one of the rolled semis has 37k lbs of recycled cardboard, and the semi on its wheels has about 9k lbs of consumer goods.”
No one was hurt, Datillo reported.
Tow trucks were arriving on the scene at about 10:30 a.m.
Troopers recommended that driver avoid I-5 south of State Route 18 for now.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM.
