I-5 north at 145th reopened after fatal "violent impact" accident

State DOT crews reopened the northbound lanes of Interstate-5 about 11: 30 a.m. today following a spectacular early-morning crash of a pickup that killed an Edmonds man.

Just after the northbound lanes re-opened, a crash on the southbound lanes closed three lanes in that direction near Northeast 145th Street, causing a long backup. The lanes reopened about noon.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the pickup crashed into a post holding a sign over the exit to the bus barn south of the Northeast 175th Street exit, shearing off the highway post that held up the sign for an exit further down the highway.

The driver has been identified by the State Patrol as Christopher W. Holsapple, 35, of Edmonds. He worked for a small company in Woodinville, according to co-workers.

"This is one of the most violent impact scenes I've seen," said Jeff Merrill, with the State Patrol. "The truck was carved in half."

"There was a tremendously violent impact into the sign," Merrill said. "He was traveling at a very high rate of speed."

He said the truck drifted off the right shoulder at the bus barn exit, traveled down a grassy median about 75 yards on a steep grassy slope and struck a large post in the median that supports a 120-foot steel overhead directional sign that spans I-5.

He said the impact dislodged the sign from its foundation and moved it 10 feet, leaving it attached only on the westbound side of the freeway "hanging precariously."

The DOT said the sign buckled and crews decided it is too heavy and dangerous to move in one piece. Crews also are working to cut a crumpled bridge portion on the west side of the freeway and to swing the sign to the east and place it on the bus barn exit ramp.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com