21-year-old driver arrested in vehicle crash that set off fiery truck accident, killing trucker
FEDERAL WAY, Wash.—
UPDATED: Bail was set at $100,000 Monday for a 21-year-old man arrested on investigation of vehicular homicide in connection with a three-vehicle collision on I-5 that killed the driver of truck carrying aviation fuel.
Tuesday is the deadline for a charging decision.
According to the police report, an officer on the scene said he believed the 21-year-old who allegedly triggered the crash showed signs of alcohol impairment. A blood draw was taken and results were pending.
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Fires continued to burn Monday morning after a tanker-truck filled with 9,000 gallons of aviation fuel crashed on Interstate 5 near Federal Way Sunday morning, killing the 68-year-old driver.
The incident started around 2:30 a.m. when a 21-year-old driver of a 2001 Nissan Altima lost control and ran into a barrier while traveling southbound on I-5 near 320th Street.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the driver of a 1995 Toyota Camry slammed into the Altima from behind and pushed both vehicles into the center lane. The tanker-truck loaded with fuel hit the wreck, left the freeway and rolled onto its side. The driver of the truck was killed, and both tankers burst, spilling fuel over the roadway. The fuel soon caught fire, officials said.
Officials arriving on the scene found the tanker-truck driver dead. The driver and two passengers of the Toyota Camry were taken to St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way with serious injuries. The driver of the Altima was arrested for a suspected DUI. He was booked into King County Jail.
South King County Firefighters put out the tanker blaze and conducted a controlled burn to remove some of the excess fuel that spilled from the tanker trailer, Dave Mataftin of South King Fire and Rescue said.
Fires from the controlled burn continued to blaze about 5 a.m. Monday morning.
Officials with the Department of Ecology said on-site monitoring didn't find any health or safety concerns to nearby homes or businesses because of the fuel spill.
All southbound lanes of I-5 were closed until 8 a.m. Sunday, officials said.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday night, crews closed the two right lanes of I-5 southbound near Mile Post 145 to remove the tanker-truck. All lanes reopened again at 8 p.m. Sunday.
Those who lived nearby said the experience was a terrifying sight.
"There were embers falling everywhere," said Federal Way resident Ken Dawson. "There were embers falling everywhere. Way up in the tall trees."
Dawson said he was sleeping in his bed before he heard a large explosion.
"You could see the bright light through the window," he said. "So, I get up and look and I just see this huge fireball and the trees are going up in flames."
It was a long day, Mataftin said, and his thoughts and prayers are with the family of the dead truck driver.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family," Mataftin said. "We feel bad about this. This is just horrible."