A 74-year-old man died following a two-car accident on northbound I-5 near the Nisqually River, Thursday afternoon.
The incident began when a northbound car traveling in the first of three lanes suffered a mechanical failure and caught fire. Debris from the burning vehicle struck a second car traveling in the adjacent lane.
The first vehicle came to rest on the right shoulder just south of the river, while the second vehicle stopped on the left shoulder just north of the river. Both drivers escaped without injury, and all three occupants were wearing seatbelts, but the 74-year-old passenger in the second car was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a state trooper, the fire and ensuing investigation forced officials to close all lanes of traffic. Vehicles trapped on the bridge were temporarily funneled through a single open lane before officials completely shut down the highway.
Shortly before 7:00 PM, the Department of Transportation directed drivers to exit at Nisqually Exit 114 to bypass the area and warned of a lengthy delay. The roadway remained fully blocked for two hours and thirty minutes.
©2026 Cox Media Group
