SEATTLE — A 41-year-old Shelton man is expected to face multiple charges after a multi-vehicle crash closed all lanes of northbound Interstate 5 near Northeast 145th Street in north Seattle Monday morning.
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), witnesses stated a 2001 Ford 350 was traveling in the left lane on northbound I-5 when the driver made “an erratic lane change” and hit a 2021 Kia Niro. Both vehicles veered left and hit the jersey barrier. The Kia rolled over before coming to a stop.
A spokesperson for the Seattle Fire Department said a 71-year-old woman from Federal Way and 81-year-old male from Eatonville were inside the Kia and needed to be extricated from the vehicle. The spokesperson said the pair was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in critical condition.
The 81-year-old later died at the hospital.
The man from Shelton who was driving the F-350 fled the scene of the crash but was apprehended by witnesses. The man was arrested by troopers after they “observed signs of impairment,” the WSP said. The man was taken to Northwest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The WSP said detectives are filing charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, felony hit-and-run and DUI against the Shelton man.
The crash was first reported shortly after 11 a.m. and caused a backup of at least two miles. All lanes reopened shortly before 2 p.m.
The Washington State Patrol and the King County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene.
The WSP is asking anyone who may have seen the crash or anyone who may have observed the F-350 before the crash to contact Detective Haake at Russ.Haake@wsp.wa.gov with any information.
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