.svg.png.jpg)
Washington State Patrol is investigating the cause of a four-car pileup that blocked the left two lanes of northbound Interstate 5 in Thurston County for an hour on Thursday.
One driver, a 71-year-old man from Gresham, Oregon, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, was injured. He was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for medical treatment.
No other injuries were reported.
The 71-year-old man, identified by the state patrol as Anthony J. Sepich, was reportedly driving a black 1955 Chevrolet CN in the center lane of northbound on I-5 near milepost 92 when the car’s tire ruptured.
As a result of the tire rupture, Sepich’s vehicle entered the left lane and struck a green 2020 Subaru Forester driven by John M. Martin, 23, of Centralia, before crashing into the median.
A red 1956 Chevrolet 210 that was behind Sepich’s vehicle in the center lane then swerved into the left lane, where it was struck by a black 2006 Dodge Ram that was driving behind Martin’s vehicle.
Washington State Patrol has identified the drivers of the Chevrolet 210 and the Dodge Ram respectively as Peter J. Emery, 78, of Damascus, Oregon, and Hailey R. Roper, 25, of Rochester.
The Chevrolet CN came to rest on the left shoulder against the barrier, the Forester came to rest in the center lane, and the Chevrolet 210 and Dodge Ram came to rest on the right shoulder.
Washington State Patrol responded to the crash at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, July 23.
No drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, according to the Washington State Patrol.
