Tanker overturns, spills tar on ramp to Boeing Freeway

Herald staff

EVERETT — A tractor trailer truck overturned at about noon today at an onramp from southbound I-5 onto the Boeing Freeway, spilling about 2,000 gallons of oozing black tar onto the road.

The accident was expected to keep the onramp closed until about 8 p.m., forcing people to use other exits to get to Mukilteo and backing up traffic on I-5 in both directions as drivers slowed down to look.

At 11:50 a.m. a semi from Daniels Trucking of Mountlake Terrace was headed south on I-5 and got off the exit near Everett Mall to head west on Highway 526, also known as the Boeing Freeway. As the 58-year-old driver rounded the corner the rig turned onto its side, said State Patrol trooper Lance Ramsay.

One of the two tanks ruptured, spilling hot tar onto the road. The goo started to solidify immediately.

The driver, whose name wasn’t released, was taken to Providence Everett Medical Center’s Colby campus with burns from the asphalt and possibly broken ribs.

The State Patrol anticipated that the onramp would be closed until 8 p.m. while the asphalt is cleaned up. Lanes on I-5 and onramps from the Boeing Freeway onto I-5 remained open.

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