Commuters faced delays on SR-18 near Auburn early Tuesday morning after a semi-truck hit the Green River Bridge and ended up on its side, creating a roadblock on the eastbound lanes. The incident, reported by KIRO 7, occurred around 5:40 a.m., with officials urging motorists to seek alternate routes as traffic began to pile up.
According to Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson, speaking to FOX 13 Seattle, the semi-truck driver reportedly lost control after falling asleep at the wheel just before 5:20 a.m., leading to the vehicle rolling over and the entrance to the Green River Bridge being blocked. The driver managed to escape unharmed; however, the truck's trailer was left hanging precariously over the side of the bridge, posing a potential danger to the waterway below.
Emergency responders, including teams from Puget Sound Fire and Valley Regional Fire Authority, were immediately called to the location to handle the aftermath of the crash, as noted by KING 5. No other vehicles were involved in the incident and no injuries have been reported.
By 7 a.m., traffic was reported by KIRO 7 to have backed up for 3 miles as the morning rush hour began to peak, with drivers being diverted onto Southeast Auburn-Black Diamond Road. Authorities have yet to announce when the eastbound lanes of SR-18 will be clear and safe for travel again.
