A serious five-vehicle collision disrupted traffic and ignited a roadside fire on State Route 900 in Renton this past Sunday. KIRO 7 reports that four individuals were injured in the crash, including one in serious condition. Eastside Fire & Rescue responded to the scene near SE May Valley Road after one of the cars burst into flames, resulting in a brush fire.
As per the Washington State Patrol, a 24-year-old Renton man driving a Ford Mustang caused the multi-car incident. Crossing over into the oncoming traffic lane, the Mustang collided with a Lexus RX, initiating a sequence of events that involved three other vehicles. The 51-year-old driver of a GMC Terrain, hit by the Mustang, was thrown into a ditch, and transported to Valley Medical Hospital, according to KOMO News.
Two other passengers, a couple in their 60s from Issaquah, were in a Hyundai that the Mustang also struck, and were taken to Overlake Medical Hospital. A fifth car, swerving to avoid the collision, was hit by debris, but the individual from Stanwood in that car was uninjured. The road was reportedly blocked for approximately five hours while the emergency services, including Eastside Fire, addressed the fire and the crash scene.
The aftermath of the crash led to traffic backups for several hours. The driver of the Mustang is expected to face vehicular assault charges, and the WSP has taken a search warrant to test the driver's blood for impairment. "Speed too fast for conditions" was cited as one of the crash's contributing factors, KIRO 7 reports. The WSP's investigation started in the evening around 6 p.m., and it is ongoing.
Trooper Rick Johnson of the Washington State Patrol also mentioned to KIRO 7 that the driver of the Ford Mustang would be arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault post-release from the hospital. At the time of reporting, updates on the conditions of those injured were not provided. The victims' ages ranged from their 50s to 60s, with injuries varying from a head laceration to a broken ankle.
