Motorists are stuck in a miles-long backup on Interstate 5 Tuesday morning after a woman on a motorcycle was killed in a fiery, high-speed crash.
Police, firefighters and medics responded to the scene, the northbound lanes of I-5 just south of the Highway 520 exit, just before 5:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a motorcycle crashing in a fireball.
A motorcyclist was found with life-threatening injuries at the scene in the midst of a huge debris field. She died at the scene.
All but one lane of the freeway was shut down during the cleanup and investigation, triggering a huge backup extending for miles. Seattle Public Schools said 66 of its school buses were delayed by the crash and investigation.
There was no immediate word on what led up to the crash, but a car was involved. The driver of the car sustained minor injuries.
Witnesses also told state troopers that a second motorcyclist was traveling with the one who died. The second motorcyclist stopped at the scene after the crash, tried to extinguish the fire, then took off to the north. Troopers are now looking for the second motorcyclist.
Witnesses said both riders were traveling at a very high rate of speed. The collision scene is about 150 feet long.
The Washington State Patrol says multiple lanes could be closed for some timeduring the cleanup and investigation.