Local

Medical emergency likely caused Mount Vernon pileup

By Libby Keller

The Bellingham Herald
Washington State Patrol officer Mark Francis talks people who were in a large accident involving a truck carrying gravel Saturday, July 18, 2015, on Interstate 5 north of Seattle. Multiple people were injured in the crash and over a dozen vehicles were involved.
Washington State Patrol officer Mark Francis talks people who were in a large accident involving a truck carrying gravel Saturday, July 18, 2015, on Interstate 5 north of Seattle. Multiple people were injured in the crash and over a dozen vehicles were involved. Lindsey Wasson Seattle Times

Washington State Patrol suspects a medical emergency led to a 28-vehicle pileup in Mount Vernon on Saturday, July 18.

Joseph F. Steiner, 60, of Everson was driving a gravel truck southbound on Interstate 5 when a medical situation caused him to lose control of the truck about 8:30 a.m. It crossed through the southbound lanes, plowed through the cable barrier and into northbound traffic, according to state troopers.

Steiner, an employee of Cowden Gravel & Ready Mix, was listed in serious condition in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center on Monday, July 20.

Seven people were injured in the pileup, which left both sides of I-5 at a standstill for hours.

Drugs and alcohol were not believed to be factors in the crash. No charges were expected to be filed against Steiner.

Washington State Patrol is looking for witnesses to the crash or the events leading up to it. People who were in the area and saw the crash or what was happening moments before are asked to call Detectives Ed Collins or Jason Kraus at 360-805-1153.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 12:02 PM with the headline "Medical emergency likely caused Mount Vernon pileup."

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