An overturned semitruck caused a five-hourlong backup of northbound traffic on Interstate 5 until the South Samish Way/WWU exit Thursday morning, April 13.
The 70-year-old driver of the truck suffered a medical event, causing him to veer off the road and into a guardrail around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a Washington State Patrol report. He was transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital. Both the truck and trailer were totaled.
Emergency services and crews responded to the accident, located south of the South Samish Way overpass, and it was cleared shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) North division.
WSDOT North tweeted at 9:10 a.m. the semitruck was upright, but that drivers should still avoid the area if possible.
By 9:30 a.m., tow trucks had removed the semitruck but crews were still clearing debris from the site, according to WSDOT North division.
Commuters were urged to take alternate routes, but many sat in gridlocked traffic while awaiting detours that routed drivers off the interstate via exit 252 and as far south as exit 246. Those detours caused a backup of traffic on Samish Way.
This story was updated at 4 p.m. April 13 to include information about the cause of the accident.
