By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A Volkswagen Jetta on Interstate 5 near Vader was hit by two semi trucks overnight, first in the northbound lanes and then after it was propelled across the freeway, by a southbound big rig.
The wreck just before 1 a.m. was part of an incident that involved four semi trucks and two passenger vehicles and closed portions of the freeway until earlier this morning.
All but two of the rigs had to be towed.
“The driver of the Jetta, at least a broken nose, non-life threatening injuries, surprisingly,” Trooper Will Finn said this morning.
It began when a southbound Freightliner swerved for a deer, struck the center barrier and lost part of an axle and at least one tire which came to rest in the northbound lanes, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The Jetta and a Dodge van both struck the tire assembly and became disabled, Finn said. A northbound Freightliner struck the Jetta and the van, shooting the Jetta into the northbound lanes where another semi truck ran into it, according to Finn.
A fourth semi became disabled when it hit debris in the northbound lanes, he said.
It happened near milepost 58, near the Cowlitz River.
A detour was put in place until about 4 a.m. when just the inside lanes were closed while workers reset the jersey barriers, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The driver of the Jetta, Henry Hammond, 57, of Tacoma, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. He was treated and has been released.
The van’s driver, Christopher Hawkins, 57, of Clackamas, Ore., was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview with chest pain, according to Finn.
Stephanie N. Laird, 33, of Vancouver, who was driving the 2005 Freightliner that swerved was uninjured, according to the state patrol.
The deer apparently was not struck and was not at the scene, according to Finn. Charges are pending, he said.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
DCE, Now I know hell has frozen over I actually agree with you. I want to know anyone else see that deer? I also think most big rig drivers would never swerve to miss deer , not on busy freeway. What a scary story !! I also agree Jetta guy was a lucky boy and it was lucky for all that day.
Swerved for a deer in a 18 wheeler, I wouldn’t most larger rigs can handle a deer strike when the right gaurds are in place. I’m thinking Big Rig might have changed lanes and didn’t notice the car next to him or it could of been a situation where the truck driver was cut off. All I know is that everone follows to close for conditions. It’s better to stay of of the cars 6 in front of you. Give that driver some space. Sheesh
Wow, maybe the guy in the Jetta should check with Volkswagen about doing a commercial for them! He might want to buy a lottery ticket too!