SMOKEY POINT — A motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries this afternoon in a northbound I-5 crash that stalled traffic for miles.
The man, 51, of Stanwood, was northbound in the right lane when a construction truck pulled from the right-hand shoulder and onto the freeway in front of the motorcyclist, according to the Washington State Patrol.
A medical helicopter landed on the freeway and took the man to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. His condition was not immediately known.
No other injuries were reported.
The accident happened near Highway 531 about 1:30 p.m. Traffic backed up more than 15 miles while troopers investigated, said Sandy Lam with the state Department of Transportation. One or more I-5 lanes remained closed until about 4 p.m. Drivers were advised to exit at 116th Street NE, go to State Avenue, then 172nd Street NE and back onto I-5.
Hundreds of drivers were affected by the backup. By rush hour, the traffic jam was stretching through south Everett, Lam said.
“That was a significantly larger than usual backup,” she said.
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