One dead in crash on Interstate-405 in Tukwila

A 29-year-old Bonney Lake man died this morining in a four-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate 405 near Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila.

The State Patrol said that Brian Berg was driving his pickup south at 6:44 a.m. when he slid his truck between a stopped semi-truck, filled with county refuse, and a Best Buy box truck slowing for the stopped traffic. The box truck couldn't avoid slamming into the pickup, said Trooper Cliff Pratt.

The pickup bed was crumpled and its gas line ruptured in the crash, Pratt said. Flames erupted, the pickup and box truck were swallowed in flames. Seeing what was happening, the refuse truck driver pulled her vehicle up and avoided the fire, Pratt said.

A fourth vehicle, a 2000 Acura, slid into the back of the box truck. The 52-year-old driver was not hurt.

Berg died at the scene. The Best Buy box truck driver escaped, the washers, dryers and televisions inside vehicle were destroyed, Pratt said.

"The fire was pretty spectacular," said Tukwila Fire Battalion Cmdr. Marty Grisham. "Flames were up over the railing on 61st Avenue South." The crash brought southbound I-405 traffic to a halt for several hours.

The State Patrol's Major Accident Investigations Team is asking the public for help finding out additional details about the crash. Anyone who saw the collision or the events leading up to it are asked to call Detective Sergeant Jerry Cooper at 360-805-1192 or Detective Curt Ladines at 360-805-1160.

Seattle Times staff reporter Sonia Krishnan contributed to this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com