I5 Suicide Today – Three lanes were closed for several hours on Thursday morning due to a tragic occurrence that happened early on I-5 in Everett.
Trooper Kelsey Harding of the Washington State Patrol reports that the incident occurred at 4:37 a.m. when a person leaped from the Highway 526 overpass close to Everett Mall.
After landing on the freeway, the person was hit by several cars, which is how they died. Authorities have not yet made any details about the deceased’s identify public.
Traffic in the south was backed up as far as Marysville during the morning rush hour due to the event, which created major inconveniences. There were significant delays for drivers, and for a few hours, the carpool lane was the only option for commuters heading south.
It was also possible for cars to use the off-ramp to turn onto Everett Mall Way and then re-enter I-5 to travel even further south. Due to the need for a thorough investigation into the crash scene, the impacted lanes had to be closed for longer than four hours. Authorities have concluded that the death was a suicide.
Law enforcement officers and emergency services made a concerted effort to control the situation and evacuate the area as soon as feasible. Eventually, the restricted lanes were reopened at approximately 9:10 a.m., enabling regular traffic movement.
Authorities are still gathering information on the events leading up to the catastrophe, thus the incident is still being looked into. The fact that such an important stretch of the highway was closed highlights the effect that these kinds of occurrences may have on traffic patterns and the significance of safety precautions on public roads.