2 dead, 2 injured after 130 mph crash on SR 18 in Federal Way, WA
State Route 18 reopens deadly 130 mph crash shuts down highway
Two people are dead and two others are in critical condition after a vehicle traveling 130 mph hit a guardrail and rolled over on State Route 18 in Federal Way, according to the Washington State Patrol.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Two people are dead, and two others are hospitalized following a high-speed rollover crash that has blocked all westbound lanes of State Route 18 just east of Interstate 5 on Thursday morning.
2 dead, 2 sent to the hospital after WSP pursuit leads to 130 mph crash
What they're saying:
A state trooper at the scene said the wreck was one of the most serious crashes of his career.
The incident began around 1 a.m. when a Washington State Patrol trooper spotted a vehicle traveling at 130 mph near the interchange of State Route 167 and State Route 18. The trooper managed to catch up to the sedan just before the ramp to Interstate 5, where the vehicle struck a guardrail.
The impact was so violent that a piece of the guardrail was thrown completely across the off-ramp, landing on top of an opposing guardrail.
All four occupants were inside the sedan. Investigators said two people died, and the two surviving victims were ejected from the vehicle and rushed to a local hospital. While authorities noted it does not appear the victims were wearing seatbelts, they emphasized it is too early in the investigation to officially confirm.
The Federal Way Police Department has taken over the primary investigation.
What we don't know:
The reason for the high speed remains under investigation, and it is unclear why the driver was fleeing police. The conditions of the two surviving victims are unknown, though authorities confirmed one is undergoing surgery.
SR-18 blocked due to deadly crash in Federal Way, WA
What you can do:
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) sent out an initial alert at about 2:40 a.m. stating that emergency crews were on the scene. Westbound lanes were closed for over nine hours, blocking access to Interstate 5 from westbound State Route 18.
Just before 1:30 p.m., WSDOT announced the crash had been cleared and all lanes were open. Drivers should expect delays as traffic adjusts.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Source: Information in this story comes from the Washington State Department of Transportation and original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle.
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