Soldier dead after accident near Tacoma

Near DuPont, Wash. — A soldier is dead and five others are injured after a government bus carrying eleven JBLM military personnel crashed into a concrete barrier in a southbound lane near Thorne Lane.

The bus collided into a jersey barrier and a light pole after police say the driver lost control somehow.  The light pole came crashing down into the northbound lanes. At 5:45 p.m., all northbound lanes were blocked because of the light pole. Those lanes opened back up to traffic at Thorne Lane around 7:55 p.m..

At 8 p.m., traffic was still backed up six miles and the left lane remained blocked.

The soldier who died passed away at Tacoma General Hospital.

The bus was transporting redeploying soldiers from Afghanistan. They were from the 7th infantry division.

Troopers said the bus was the only vehicle involved in the crash.

The State Patrol is still investigating the scene. Names won't be released until 24 hours after families have been notified.

KIRO