Tacoma, WA (August 30, 2026) – One person was hospitalized early on Friday morning, August 28, after a three-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 5 near 56th Street in Tacoma. The collision happened at approximately 12:25 a.m.
According to the Washington State Patrol, a 37-year-old man was driving south on the right shoulder when he struck an idle vehicle occupied by a 45-year-old woman.
The impact pushed that vehicle into another car parked on the shoulder and occupied by a 43-year-old woman. The 45-year-old driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries.
Washington State Patrol listed driving under the influence as the cause of the crash. The 37-year-old driver was charged with DUI. The roadway was blocked for about two and a half hours.
We hope the injured driver receives attentive care and recovers steadily.
Why Stopped Vehicles Are Vulnerable on Freeway Shoulders
Vehicles stopped on the shoulder may be stationary while nearby freeway traffic is moving at much higher speeds, creating the potential for a severe difference in impact force.
An impaired driver may also have reduced reaction time, judgment, or lane control, increasing the risk of striking vehicles or people outside the normal travel lanes.
Travel speed, vehicle position, visibility, impairment, and the sequence of impacts can all affect injury severity. Shoulder crashes may also create additional danger for occupants, tow operators, and emergency crews working close to moving traffic.
