Police: Driver fell asleep, causing semitruck crash on I-5 on Saturday

A big collision involving a semitruck on I-5 caused a major backup on both directions of the freeway in Seattle this morning. It appears that the crash may have been caused when the driver fell asleep, according to investigators. Troopers are looking into how long the driver had been on the road prior to the collision.

According to the Washington State Patrol, a semi-truck carrying two trailers, broke apart on impact after crashing through a median barrier just south of the West Seattle Bridge.

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That resulted in some lane closures and traffic that stretched several miles in both directions of the freeway.

“From what I understand it wasn’t raining hard at the time so it’s hard to say if this was weather-related,” said WSP Trooper Rick Johnson. “I don’t know what the truck driver was doing but thankfully he only had minor injuries and he was transported to the hospital.

KIRO 7 also talked to a driver whose car was hit by concrete debris from the crash.

Chan Xia said he had no idea what happened until he felt the impact and saw the damage.

“We felt really lucky because it literally hit the door instead of through the window,” said Xia who had rented this car to go up to Crystal Mountain. “For a freak accident like this I am really thankful we are OK.”

The semitruck also knocked down a light pole and there was some oil spill on the roadway that added to the clean-up time.

Cox Media Group