EVERETT — U.S. 2 has reopened near Monroe on Wednesday after a collision involving two vehicles and a box truck.
The road is closed west of Fryelands Boulevard outside of Monroe between milepost 11 and milepost 13. A hazmat team is on the scene to contain a chemical spill.
Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, a box truck used for professional power washing was traveling west on U.S. 2 in foggy conditions when traffic ahead began to slow. The truck, carrying one passenger, rear-ended a sedan with a single occupant.
Both drivers pulled over as far as possible onto the narrow shoulder to exchange information. The box truck driver exited his vehicle and walked between the guardrail and the cars to speak with the sedan driver. While he was standing outside, a Subaru Outback crashed into the box truck, pushing both vehicles into him and throwing him 20 yards down an embankment, Mongillo said.
Firefighters worked to contain a bleach spill from a 50-gallon barrel in the crash and as well as diesel fuel that spilled on the road.
The Snohomish County Hazardous Materials Response Team responded to help clean up the spill.
An off-duty Snoqualmie firefighter, who happened to be driving by, used a basic life support kit in his vehicle to help the injured driver who was thrown an estimated 20 yards down the embankment, Mongillo said.
Mongillo said the injured box truck driver was transported to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Another driver was transported with less serious injuries.
Michael Henneke: 425-339-3431; michael.henneke@heraldnet.com; X: @ihenpecked.
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