Early Thursday morning, a serious crash occurred on the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle near the Mercer Street exit. According to the State Patrol, at about 4:40 a.m. a 23-year-old driver from Lake Forest Park failed to see a motorcycle while moving into the right lane. The motorcycle was being operated by a 27-year-old man from Federal Way. As a result of the collision the rider was thrown from the seat and was transported to Harborview Medical Center; the extent of his injuries has not been disclosed.
The crash caused major traffic disruptions: two left lanes and two right lanes were blocked, leaving rush-hour traffic paralyzed for more than four hours. Emergency personnel responded quickly, and by 9 a.m. the roadway had been fully cleared, the Washington State Department of Transportation reported on X. Authorities say neither alcohol nor drugs were factors in the crash — the incident was caused by the driver's inattention while changing lanes.
Based on: Workers clear crash that blocked southbound I-5 lanes in Seattle