On Saturday in Washington state, a nearly 80-kilometer funeral motorcade transported the bodies of nine workers killed in a chemical accident in Longview to the Cowlitz County morgue. The procession traveled along Interstate 5 — the main transportation artery of the U.S. West Coast, linking states from Canada to Mexico — beneath an overcast sky. For the Seattle region and the state of Washington as a whole, this highway is a key route for moving people and goods, and holding a funeral procession on it is an extremely rare event that requires official police permission. Choosing this route underscored the scale of the tragedy and allowed thousands of residents to pay their respects, as the highway passes through many towns. Dozens of locals gathered along the roadway to pay tribute. One witness compared the tragedy to the Mount St. Helens eruption — that was how deeply shaken the community felt.
The accident occurred on May 26 when a tank at Nippon Dynawave Packaging ruptured, causing a leak of more than 500,000 gallons (about 1.9 million liters) of a caustic chemical known as "white lye." The catastrophe killed 11 workers. The bodies of nine were transported on Saturday; the remains of a tenth were sent earlier to the Yakima area, and the eleventh deceased person was outside the jurisdiction of the county coroner.
Many Longview residents and those in surrounding communities have personal ties to the victims or know someone who works at local industrial plants. "Everyone knows somebody who works at the plant," said 61-year-old Missy Pennington, who stood by the bridge. Longview is one of the major industrial centers in the southern part of the state, historically focused on timber processing and the pulp-and-paper industry. The plants here are more than employers — they form the basis of the town’s life: providing jobs for multiple generations of families, supporting the local budget, and shaping the community’s identity. In small U.S. towns this connection is intensified by the limited number of large employers and the role of unions. Among those gathered were people who worked at the hospital that treated the injured; they said these days have been very difficult for the entire community.
Authorities initially reported 10 people injured, including a firefighter, but later it became clear that 10 more sought medical attention. Four of them arrived at the hospital on their own, and six more employees from the nearby Weyerhaeuser freight terminal also underwent medical evaluations. All have since been released after receiving treatment.
The investigation into the accident continues, but experts cannot yet gain full access to the site. The damaged tank, while stable, remains coated with toxic white lye and requires decontamination. State and federal officials are interviewing workers and requesting necessary documents, but the timeline for completing decontamination and beginning a physical inspection has not been determined.
Despite the mourning, the community is coming together to support those affected. On Sunday, the Banter Brothers motorcycle club is organizing a charity ride in support of Nippon Dynawave employees. The route will end at The Shamrock Bar & Grill in Longview, where funds will also be raised. In towns like Longview, grief is expressed through shared events: community memorial services at churches or local centers, temporary memorials of flowers, candles and notes, fundraising via crowdfunding platforms, volunteer assistance for the families of the deceased, moments of silence at the plants, and public statements from local officials. Churches and local nonprofits often play a central role. Organizers of the ride hope to attract as many participants as possible to help those affected by the tragedy.
Local residents express hope that the investigation will shed light on the causes of the catastrophe and provide answers to the victims’ families. "Everyone has questions, and no one has answers," one witness said, reflecting the community’s mood as it tries to comprehend what happened and find the strength to move forward.
Based on: 50-mile motorcade honors victims of Longview industrial disaster