Multiple crashes snarl Monday commute in Tacoma



TACOMA, Wash. -- Crashes wreaked havoc on the commute Monday morning in Tacoma.

According to Washington State Troopers, a box truck traveling southbound hit debris on Interstate 5 near SR 16, causing the vehicle to lose control and hit the center barrier. Six or more sections of the barrier have been damaged or moved onto the northbound lanes, causing a multiple vehicle crash.

A short time later, a semi-truck traveling northbound hit the inside barrier, pushing it into the southbound lanes in the same stretch of roadway.

Around 9:00a.m., WSDOT officials said one southbound lane of the mainline reopened.

Northbound traffic was reduced to one lane using the collector-distributor lanes.