Eighteen vehicles involved in five separate collisions along Interstate 5 southbound in Kent caused four of the five southbound lanes to be blocked for about an hour Tuesday afternoon.
The backup extended for 10 miles at one point, according to the state Department of Transportation.
One person had serious but non-life threatening injuries, according to an email from Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Webb.
“A heavy shower followed by sunshine contributed to the collisions,” Webb said.
Seven vehicles were involved in one of the collisions.
The accidents started at about 2:35 p.m. Tuesday just south of State Route 516, also known as the Kent Des Moines Road, at mile post 149. Just one southbound lane was open at 3:10 p.m. Traffic backed up to State Route 518 and I-405.
The lanes were all cleared by 5:10 p.m. but long backups remained. Significant delays continued for drivers through the evening commute and extended to alternate routes, including the West Valley Highway through Kent.
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