A driver was killed and a passenger was rushed to the hospital after a vehicle slammed into a utility pole near the Port of Tacoma on Wednesday evening, according to police. The crash drew a heavy response to the Tideflats, and a stretch of Portland Avenue was shut down while crews worked the scene and kept traffic away.
Tacoma police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd told The News Tribune the collision was reported at about 6:42 p.m. One person was pronounced dead at the scene and another was taken to a hospital, though the surviving victim's condition was not immediately known. Boyd shared the early details as officers locked down the area and coordinated with utility workers.
The wreck happened at Portland Avenue East and St. Paul Avenue, just off port property, and Portland Avenue was closed between Lincoln Avenue and St. Paul Avenue while detectives and crews operated in the area, according to local coverage by Yahoo News. Witnesses reported a strong emergency presence, and lanes stayed blocked into the evening as workers cleared debris and checked the damaged pole.
Where it happened and traffic impacts
The intersection sits inside Tacoma’s Tideflats industrial corridor, a key route that pushes truck and freight traffic to the Port of Tacoma. That section of East Portland Avenue is listed as a major arterial in the city's public-works plans, which can complicate detours and cleanup when a collision shuts it down. Tacoma Public Works maps the corridor and highlights its role in the local street network.
Investigation and next steps
Officials say the collision remains under investigation and have asked anyone with information to contact Tacoma police. Initial details came from the department's public information officer, Shelbie Boyd, as reported to The News Tribune. Authorities have not yet released the names of those involved or identified a cause, and investigators are expected to review possible factors such as speed, impairment or mechanical issues. We will update this story as police or city officials release additional information.
