Police: Semi going ‘too fast for conditions’ caused two truck wreck that shut down interstate

Washington State Police (WSP) say that a serious two truck collision that caused nightmare traffic in Tacoma this morning was triggered by two factors — speed and wet roads.

The crash occurred at 6:45 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, at mile marker 133 on I-5 in Tacoma, according to My Northwest.

WSP says that the interstate was wet from rain as one truck driver attempted to pass another on a curve in the southbound lanes of the interstate.

WSP Trooper Johnna Batiste describes how the crash happened:

“We have two different semis involved in this collision … witnesses report he was attempting to pass a semi traveling approximately 55 mph on the wet pavement as you approach the curve. During his attempt to pass that traffic, he was traveling too fast on the wet roadway and lost control of the semi. His container swung out around him, perpendicular to the road, causing all of southbound I-5 to be blocked. And his tractor actually struck the tractor of the semi he was attempting to pass.”

No injuries were reported.

Troopers say that the truck driver who attempted to pass and caused the crash will be cited.

The crash shut down all southbound lanes of I-5 and two of the northbound lanes of the interstate for hours. All lanes reopened around 10:30 a.m.

Trooper Batiste pointed out how important it is to drive to conditions. “It’s not necessarily the speed limit, you’re driving for what your vehicle can handle. Sixty miles per hour may be the speed limit, but obviously if it’s snowing or we got a wet roadway, that speed limit may not be appropriate,” she said.