A fatal three-vehicle crash has shut down all southbound lanes of State Route 167 near 15th Street Northwest in Auburn, with no clear timeline yet for reopening. Emergency crews rushed to the scene early Friday morning to investigate the collision, which left at least one person dead.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson announced the closure and confirmed the fatality, according to KING5. The crash, which involved three vehicles, prompted troopers to begin safely turning around drivers who found themselves stuck within the closed stretch of highway.
Drivers heading south on SR 167 are being urged to avoid the area entirely and seek alternate routes while crews work the scene. The station reports that the closure is expected to last an extended period, though no specific reopening time has been given.
Another Deadly Crash on a Stretch With a Troubled History
Another Deadly Crash on a Stretch With a Troubled History Friday's wreck is not the first fatal, multi-vehicle crash to strike this corridor. Back in December 2025, Washington State Patrol investigated a fatal three-vehicle crash near the SR-18 interchange in Auburn, according to KOMO News. In that incident, a semi-truck driver rear-ended a car and pushed it into another truck, killing one driver and shutting down the northbound lanes at SR-18 before they reopened by 2 p.m. that same day.
The corridor has also seen injury crashes in recent months. On May 30, a two-car crash occurred on northbound SR 167 near the same 15th Street Northwest area at around 1:47 a.m., as reported by The News Tribune. In that case, a 19-year-old Kent man was arrested for driving under the influence after rear-ending a 21-year-old Tacoma man's vehicle; both drivers were hospitalized and both cars were totaled.
What Comes Next
Washington State Patrol says it will provide updates as more information becomes available about Friday's crash. No details have been released about the identities of those involved, the number of people injured beyond the confirmed fatality, or what caused the collision.
For now, commuters in the Auburn area should plan for significant delays and seek alternate routes while the investigation continues and the southbound lanes of SR 167 remain closed.
