Semi overturns onto I-5 at Chehalis. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol.
Updated at 9:32 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Southbound Interstate 5 at Chehalis is shut down while crews work to clean up debris and the wreckage of a semi truck this morning.
Trooper Will Finn states the driver is being airlifted.
Responders called to the scene at 6:30 a.m. beneath the West Street overpass found the semi truck laying on its side across the southbound lanes.
It appeared the northbound truck struck the guard rail and then came back onto the roadway and slammed through the center barrier, according to the Chehalis Fire Department.
There is lots of oil and diesel on the road, Firefighter Jay Birley said.
Finn said flying debris damaged two other vehicles, one of which sustained a shattered windshield.
There is no estimated time for reopening the highway, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Forty feet of center median jersey barrier needs to be replaced, according to WSDOT.
The scene is just north of the Main Street interchange.
Southbound traffic is being detoured onto Chamber of Commerce Way to Louisiana Avenue to state Route 6 returning to I-5, according to WSDOT. Drivers should expect long delays.
WSDOT advises motorists to use an alternate route or delay travel.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Wait a minute…somebody on this message board admitting they were wrong and apologizing? BobbyinLC, you are one of a kind!
Seriously, though, even if he got the details wrong, Bobby is right; the driver should be held accountable. I read elsewhere that he was cited for negligence, so that end of things is taken care of.
Looking at that picture, it’s hard to believe there weren’t more injuries. I-5 through Chehalis is getting wilder by the day.
I am the first to admit if I made a mistake and yes I did so here. I thought he hit the overpass and that was wrong. Please accept my apologies for assuming instead of reading. I still offer best wishes to the driver for a speedy recovery.
Bobby… did you read the article? This had Nothing to do with the Overpass this time.
they didn’t hit the overpass – the West st bridge it too high to be hit by anything – the driver fell asleep and crashed thru the jersey barrier into the southbound lanes…
Enough is enough with our overpasses. It is the responsibility of the operator of the vehicle to know the size of their truck and watch for height signs on over passes.
The company who owns the truck and the drivers need to be held financially responsible for when they hit an overpass causing serious damage.
Not to sound completely cold hearted–I do wish the driver well in their recovery.