Massive crash closes I-5, injures 15

SEATTLE — A collision involving 12 vehicles injured dozens of people and closed northbound Interstate 5 at mid-Boeing field for more than an hour.

The collision happened around 6:45 a.m. Friday.  KIRO 7 Traffic Anchor Alexis Smith said all lanes were blocked just north of the Boeing Access Road.

The Seattle Fire Department said on its Twitter account that 15  people were hurt.  Nine had minor injuries, five had serious injuries and one man was in critical condition.

The critically injured victim, a 25-year-old man who was a passenger in a car, had to be extricated from the vehicle.  Firefighters said he was unresponsive when he was transported to Harborview.

The Washington State Patrol said there were three chain-reaction crashes involving 12 cars sparked by a speeding driver following too close.

Seven aid cars were called to the scene, and at one point, traffic was backed up 14 miles to Federal Way.

All lanes reopened by 8:40 a.m.

Another collision on southbound I-5, in about the same location as the northbound collisions, occured around 7:35 a.m.  Seattle fire said that collision involved five vehicles and five people had minor injuries.

The crash blocked two lanes, but was cleared by 8:10 a.m.

Firefighters said between the two collisions they evaluated 30 people.

KIRO