Three tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle were involved in a pileup on Interstate 82 in Sunnyside, Washington on Wednesday morning.
The crash happened around 6:40 a.m., in morning rush hour traffic, and shut down the highway in both directions. The eastbound lanes were quickly reopened, however the westbound lanes remained closed between mile markers 63 to 58 for hours.
According to local news station KIMA-TV, the pileup began when a truck driven by 45-year-old Jose Rodriguez rear-ended a 2006 Kia Spectra. A second tractor trailer was unable to stop in time for the accident and hit the first semi before rolling off the interstate. A third truck then plowed into the first truck.
Five people were injured and taken to the hospital. None of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening.
The Washington Dept. of Transportation blamed the crash on icy road conditions.
The westbound lanes finally reopened around 11:30 a.m., more than 4 hours after the incident.
