A major multi-car collision involving at least twenty-one vehicles occurred early Monday morning on Interstate 5 near the King-Pierce county line in Washington State, resulting in significant travel disruptions and at least one person taken to hospital.

The Washington State Patrol reported that the pile-up happened on the northbound lanes near Fife during periods of poor visibility and hazardous driving conditions, with debris in the roadway contributing to the chain-reaction crash at approximately five a.m. Local authorities said slow-moving traffic and residual fog heightened the danger for motorists navigating the corridor, which is one of the busiest freeways in the Pacific Northwest.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to manage the aftermath, treat the injured and direct traffic.

One individual was transported to a local hospital with injuries, though officials did not immediately release details about their condition.

Troopers and state transportation crews worked for several hours to clear the wreckage and reopen lanes, leaving just one lane available for traffic as the cleanup continued into the morning peak travel period.

Interstate 5, which links Seattle with Tacoma and other key metropolitan areas, has seen a series of major collisions in recent years, often tied to weather-related visibility issues and sudden roadway hazards, prompting safety warnings from authorities.

Transportation officials urged drivers to exercise extreme caution in fog and reduced visibility, and to monitor real-time traffic and weather updates before traveling on the interstate.

Delays extended for miles in both directions as motorists sought alternate routes to avoid the crash site, underscoring the ongoing impact of severe weather and road conditions on commuter and freight traffic along this critical West Coast artery.