A collision on eastbound SR 518 at Des Moines Memorial Drive in Burien caused significant traffic disruptions Friday morning, Dec. 6, 2024, initially blocking all lanes, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Emergency responders, including fire crews, Washington State Patrol, and Burien Police, quickly arrived at the scene to manage the incident.

According to a release at 7:36 a.m. from WSDOT, the multi-vehicle collision was bad enough to close the freeway, and officials advised drivers to seek alternate routes.

According to an eyewitness, eight cars and one semi-truck were involved in the eastbound collision and traffic was getting by on the shoulder. 

As of the latest update at 8:20 a.m., all lanes of SR 518 were cleared. Motorists are still urged to proceed with caution and anticipate lingering delays as emergency crews continue their response efforts.

Drivers are reminded to check for updates through WSDOT’s traffic alerts on social media or their website.

Since 2007, The B-Town Blog is Burien’s multiple award-winning hyperlocal news/events website dedicated to independent journalism.