News

Jackknifed semitruck backs up Tacoma traffic for miles

TACOMA, Wash. — A jackknifed semitruck that lost its load blocked all of northbound Interstate 5 and some southbound lanes, backing up traffic for miles.

The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. Thursday near the near the Highway 16 interchange when the northbound semitruck slid on the rain-slicked freeway, struck the concrete barriers that separate the freeway and pushed them and concrete fragments into the southbound lanes.

Troopers said the traffic-choking mess was related to heavy rain that was falling and creating standing water in some spots.

By 9 p.m., the northbound lanes were cleared and the semitruck was towed away, but two southbound lanes remained blocked.

All lanes have since reopened.

In the same area Wednesday night, another semi crashed and lost a load of heavy steel casings.