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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The backup extended for 10 miles at one point, according to the state Department of Transportation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
One person had serious but non-life threatening injuries, according to an email from Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Webb.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“A heavy shower followed by sunshine contributed to the collisions,” Webb said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Seven vehicles were involved in one of the collisions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n