Semi-truck catches fire after crash, closes I-5 express lanes for hours

SEATTLE — All southbound I-5 express lanes were blocked in Seattle for hours after a crash caused a semi-truck to burst into flames.

The crash happened at 5:40 a.m. Friday near Mercer Street when the semi hit a concrete freeway structure, according to Seattle fire.  No other cars were involved.

The driver of the semi, a 32-year-old man, was taken to Harborview, where is he stable.

Washington State Department of Transportation said inspection crews did not find any damage to the bridge in the express lanes and the southbound lanes reopened shortly before 11 a.m.

With traffic backed up from Seattle to Lynnwood, WSDOT said the express lanes will be kept southbound until noon.  Usually, the lanes are reversed to northbound at 11:15 a.m.

Watch raw video of the semi fire below.

Cox Media Group