A speeding car and slow traffic caused by construction on the northbound Interstate 5 North Fork Lewis River Bridge combined to cause a five-car crash Thursday.
The crash occurred at 12:45 p.m. at Milepost 17, near the La Center exit.
The Washington State Patrol reported Darell L. Honea, 80, of Susanville, Calif., crashed his car into the rear of a car that was stopped in the left lane due to traffic congestion. That car landed on its top on the shoulder, and Honea’s vehicle then struck the next car in line, triggering a chain reaction with two other vehicles.
Three motorists, including Honea, were reported injured. There was no report of any citations.
The bridge repair, which is scheduled to last into October, has traffic narrowed to two lanes at reduced speed limits. Traffic has been backed up for 7 miles or more, with delays of 50 minutes possible, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
