Early Sunday on Interstate 5 near Tacoma, a wrong-way driver suspected of DUI crashed into oncoming traffic, leaving three people with serious injuries and turning a busy stretch of freeway into a major crash scene. Troopers and emergency crews shut down lanes to reach the wounded and start piecing together what went wrong. Commuters stuck in the mess crawled through long backups while tow trucks and investigators worked to clear the wreckage.
According to KING 5, Washington State Patrol Trooper Kameron Watts said the collision happened near milepost 129 on I-5 and that three people were taken to hospitals with serious injuries. The report states that the driver who entered the freeway going the wrong direction was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular assault. Troopers warned drivers to expect an extended investigation and lingering delays while the scene was documented and cleared.
Why wrong-way crashes are especially dangerous
Wrong-way collisions do not happen often, but when they do, they tend to be devastating. They are usually head-on impacts at highway speeds, which is exactly the kind of crash safety officials fear most. A special investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found that an analysis of fatal-crash data showed roughly 60 percent of fatal wrong-way drivers had indications of alcohol use. That pattern helps explain why impairment is such a focus in these probes; see the NTSB's report for more detail.
Traffic impacts near South 72nd Street
Per KING 5, the Washington State Department of Transportation temporarily closed all southbound I-5 lanes at South 72nd Street and blocked northbound lanes three and four while crews removed damaged vehicles and cleared debris. WSDOT planned to reopen lanes once tow trucks finished hauling away the wreckage and cleanup crews cleared the roadway. The closures created heavy backups through Tacoma and into nearby suburbs during the morning commute.
Investigation and what comes next
Troopers say the investigation remains active, and authorities have not released the arrested driver's name or additional details about the injured beyond their transport to hospitals. Prosecutors will review the evidence, including toxicology results, before deciding what charges to pursue. Drivers and commuters should monitor the WSDOT real-time traffic page for updates on lane reopenings and any detour information.
Legal note
Washington law defines driving under the influence at RCW 46.61.502, and vehicular assault, which can apply when an intoxicated driver causes substantial bodily harm, is codified at RCW 46.61.522. Whether prosecutors file those or other charges will depend on the results of the investigation and the evidence collected by troopers and collision reconstruction teams.
