Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Big rig crash shuts down 41st Street onramp to I-5 By Diana Hefley Herald Writer EVERETT – A semi-tractor truck hauling toilet paper and paper towels made a mess in Everett this morning. The big rig, loaded with 20,000 pounds of paper products, tipped over just before 2 a.m. The crash shut down access to northbound I-5 from the 41st Street onramp for more than six hours, Washington State Patrol trooper Keith Leary said. The driver, a 34-year-old British Columbia man, told troopers he swerved to miss a construction barrel that had been knocked into his path after it was clipped by a car, Leary said. The truck driver lost control and his rig flipped on its side at the bottom of the onramp. On the way down, the truck and 53-foot trailer demolished about 150 feet of brand-new guard rail, Leary said. The driver was not hurt. About 40 gallons of diesel spilled from the truck. The state Department of Ecology responded to the crash and determined the fuel hadn’t leaked into any storm drains or waterways, Leary said. Two large tow trucks spent the morning removing the big rig from the roadway. The onramp was reopened about 8:30 a.m. Traffic was a little slower than normal but the crash didn’t cause any major backups, Leary said. Troopers continue to investigate the cause of the accident. They say they haven’t determined whether the semi-truck driver will be cited.

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