A high-speed single-car collision on northbound SR 99 near South Park late Thursday night (July 5) killed a 17-year old and knocked a huge overhead sign onto the highway. Washington State Patrol Troopers say that the vehicle was northbound on SR 99 near the 14th Ave S. exit (map below) shortly before 11 p.m. when it left the roadway, struck the sign, then became fully engulfed in fire. Sadly, the 17-year old driver was killed. Northbound lanes of SR 99 reopened around 8:30 a.m. Friday, at South Cloverdale Street after a long closure. The huge sign fell onto the roadway, which was closed for several hours.
Crews are still working to clean-up and move a large overhead sign bridge on northbound SR 99 that came down in last night’s crash. Northbound SR 99 is closed at 14th Street S/Des Moines Memorial through the morning commute. Consider I-5 as an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/qgcwJ2t83b
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) July 6, 2018
Here are some photos of the scene. There will be a long closure NB due to the sign over the roadway. pic.twitter.com/yPfp94bHLy
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) July 6, 2018
UPDATE: NB SR 99 remains closed due to this serious overnight collision. All NB traffic must exit the hwy at Des Moines Memorial Dr/14th Ave S. Continue to use I-5 as an alternate route! NB will remain closed at least through the morning commute. SB SR 99 is open. pic.twitter.com/zb0mIpGEOY
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) July 6, 2018
UPDATE: The S Cloverdale St on-ramp to NB SR 99 is now closed as well so crews can safely bring down this damaged overhead sign bridge.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) July 6, 2018
UPDATE: The S Cloverdale St on-ramp to NB SR 99 is back open. However, all lanes of NB SR 99 remain closed @ Des Moines Memorial Dr/14th Ave S. Continue to avoid the area! pic.twitter.com/Sp4EG68S43
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) July 6, 2018
]]>UPDATE: The damaged overhead sign bridge has been removed and our sweeper truck is now cleaning the roadway before reopening NB SR 99. pic.twitter.com/IOAKaId0Sg
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) July 6, 2018