May 21st, 2010 | 
Author: CENTRALIA, WA – A truck accident in Washington State left three people injured and shut down part of a highway for hours during the morning commute on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. The collision between a semi trailer truck and two cars occurred in a construction zone on Interstate 5 near the city of Centralia, WA near the border between Lewis and Thurston Counties. The truck accident area is south of the Olympia metro region in the west-central section of the state, 85 miles southwest of Seattle, WA and 90 miles north of Portland, Oregon.
Emergency personnel with the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority responded to the scene of the truck accident and offered aid to the victims.
At about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday morning a 2010 Freightliner semi tractor truck driven by a 39 year old driver from Olympia, WA was traveling south on Interstate 5 near Centralia, WA, just south of Grand Mound. As the 18 wheeler traveled in the vicinity of mile marker 88 near Rochester, south of Great Wolf Lodge, the truck approached a highway construction zone where traffic was moving slower than normal.
The semi truck came up on several vehicles which had slowed down to move around the construction work. The vehicles included a 2003 Cadillac Deville driven by a 64 year old Vancouver, WA woman, and a 1996 Honda Accord driven by a 34 year old man from Chehalis, WA.
The Honda had slowed to allow the Cadillac to merge in front of it, and the Cadillac then stopped in the roadway directly in the path of the Freightliner tractor trailer.
The trailer truck was unable to stop in time or maneuver to avoid a collision and slammed into the two cars. The impact of the truck accident sent one of the cars crashing into a highway barrier.
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Emergency personnel with the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority responded to the scene of the truck accident and offered aid to the victims. The Vancouver woman driving the Cadillac had two female passengers in her car, a 62 year old woman from Everett and a 70 year old woman from Mukilteo. According to authorities all three women suffered injuries and were stabilized at the scene and then transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Centralia with what was described as non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Honda and the truck driver were not injured in the truck accident.
Washington State Police troopers also reported to the accident scene to provide traffic control and investigate the multiple collisions. The southbound lanes on Interstate 5 were shut down and traffic was rerouted to Highway 99, starting at the Grand Mound Exit #88. Vehicles were allowed back on the interstate at Centralia Exit # 82.
Officials also closed the inner northbound lane of the interstate for a time after the truck accident. The traffic delays would continue for about seven hours, with lanes finally reopening before noon on Wednesday.
Both smaller vehicles received extensive damage when they were hit by the semi trailer truck and are considered totaled. The semi truck sustained about $15,000 in damage.
Based on preliminary reports WSP said that all persons involved in the truck accident were wearing their seat belts at the time and they do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
No charges or citations have been made at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.
For more information about Washington trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact nationwide truck accident lawyers Gordon, Elias & Seely, LLP for expert advice. For a free initial consultation, talk to a WA truck accident lawyer at 800.773.6770.
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