Driver rescued after his semi-truck rolls off Interstate 5, starts brush fire

TUKWILA - A semi-truck driver is lucky to be alive after his truck rolled off Interstate 5, went over an embankment and caused a brush fire in Tukwila.

The truck was northbound on I -5 near Southcenter when the semi left the freeway and down a 75-foot embankment, the Kent Fire Department said.

Smoke could be seen along the freeway and fire departments from South King Fire and Rescue, Kent, Tukwila and Boeing worked to put out the fire.

The accident and fire happened just after 2 a.m. Friday morning, a Valleycom dispatcher confirmed.

Rescue crews had to use chain saws to cut through thick brush to get to the driver, who managed to get out of the truck by himself, Kent FD said.

Crews used ropes to bring the driver up to the roadway where medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition, Tukwila FD said.

Initially all lanes of northbound I 5 were blocked to traffic except the HOV lane, WSP tweeted.

WSP is hoping to reopen all lanes of I 5 northbound by 5:30am

This is a developing news story and will be updated as soon as more information is available.