EVERETT — Troopers are investigating whether a Bellingham woman was intoxicated when she was involved in a crash that tied up I-5 traffic through Everett Thursday morning.
The 9 a.m. crash on southbound I-5 near Lowell clogged traffic for more than an hour.
The collision involved a Mazda MX-5 Miata and a Chrysler SUV, Washington State Patrol trooper Mark Francis said.
At least three lanes were blocked. The backup stretched for several miles.
Troopers said a witness reported that the Mazda was being driven erratically shortly before the crash. A Bellingham woman, 58, was behind the steering wheel and is being investigated for drunken driving, Francis said.
The Mazda drove onto the right shoulder and hit a concrete barrier. The car then spun across all four lanes before crashing into an SUV, Francis said.
The SUV rolled onto a jersey barrier before ending up on its side in the carpool lane.
The SUV driver — a Florida man, 51 — was not injured.
His passenger — a Florida woman, 43 — was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett with possible rib injuries.
The Mazda driver also was taken to the same hospital.
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