SHORELINE – A fatal collision and a semi-truck fire in Shoreline snarled the Friday afternoon commute from Seattle to Everett.
The incidents happened around midday, less than two hours apart, on opposite sides of I-5 near NE 175th Street, Department of Transportation spokesman Ryan Bianchi said.
The afternoon commute from Seattle to Everett took drivers an average of about 1 hour and 6 minutes during peak rush-hour traffic. That’s 22 minutes longer than the average, Bianchi said.
“This is worse than normal,” Bianchi said. “It just never really recovered from earlier.”
An Everett man was arrested Friday afternoon in connection with the fatal accident, which happened about 11:15 a.m. in the northbound lanes, Washington State Patrol trooper Kelly Spangler said.
Investigators believe a metal shelving unit fell from the back of the pickup the man was driving, Spangler said. A Honda Civic reportedly traveling behind him swerved to avoid the shelving, crossed into the left lane and was hit broadside by a Lincoln Town Car.
The driver of the Honda died at the scene. Nobody else was seriously injured, Spangler said.
The pickup truck reportedly didn’t stop when the accident happened, Spangler said. The Everett man’s grandfather, who told investigators he was in the truck with his grandson, called the State Patrol an hour later, Spangler said.
The Everett man was expected to be booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of failing to secure the load in his truck, Spangler said.
The semi-truck fire happened about 12:50 p.m. on the southbound side of the freeway. The truck was preparing to merge onto the freeway when it caught fire, Bianchi said. Nobody was injured.
The freeway’s northbound lanes were closed for 15 minutes after the fatal accident. All lanes weren’t opened again until after 2 p.m.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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