RENTON, Wash. — A driver was arrested and all northbound lanes of Interstate 405 near Renton were reopened Monday morning after a collision caused lengthy delays and traffic to be backed up for miles, according to the Washington Department of Traffic (WSDOT).
The collision was first reported just after 3 a.m. along the northbound lanes of I-405 near NE 30th Street. All of the northbound lanes re-opened just before 9 a.m., nearly six hours after the collision was first reported.
Two cars were traveling northbound on I-405 in the same lane when the car in front became disabled, according to Washington State Patrol (WSP). The car that was behind it crashed into the disabled car.
The cause of the crash is believed to be following too close, WSP said.
Washington State Trooper Rick Johnson said a driver in the "car/semi vehicular assault collision" was arrested due to suspected impairment.
A passenger was critically injured in the collision, Johnson said in a tweet.
The collision blocked the right two lanes of the highway and the NE 30th Street on-ramp was partially blocked, according to WSDOT.
WSDOT tweeted that the backup stretches at least five miles, which impacted travelers all the way to SR 167 East.
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