Man, unrestrained boy injured in crash with Metro bus on I-5 Express Lanes
SEATTLE -- A 28-year-old man and a 4-year-old boy were seriously injured when their car collided with a Metro Bus on the I-5 Express Lanes Tuesday morning.
The crash happened just before 9:30 a.m. just north of Mercer Street. Troopers say the driver was heading south with his 4-year-old son, who was not restrained in a car seat, when he became distracted by his son and didn't notice the bus had slowed in traffic. The driver tried to swerve but still hit the right rear of the bus.
Both were trapped in the wreckage and had to be freed by firefighters. They were then taken to Harborview Medical Center, troopers said.
There were 30 passengers plus the driver on the bus but no reported injuries, according to Metro spokesperson Scott Guttierez. The bus was on route 312 from the Bothell/Kenmore area and another bus came to get passengers on their way downtown.
The crash blocked all but one lane of the express lanes, creating a several mile backup. The accident was cleared just before 11 a.m. and the Express Lanes were able to reopen northbound at 12:15 p.m., about 45 minutes late.
Troopers say the driver will be cited for reckless endangerment.
