Icy roads cause morning havoc, fatality in Burien, patrol-car crash in Seattle

Icy streets and highways contributed to scores of accidents around Seattle early today, including a fatality in Burien and a head-on collision involving a Seattle police officer.

Between 4 and 9 a.m., the Washington State Patrol logged 52 accidents, including five with injuries, on major highways in King County, said Trooper Dan McDonald. Highway overpasses were particularly treacherous because of the chilly air passing under them.

In Burien, a taxi driver was killed after he apparently got out of his car after it spun out on an overpass and ended up facing south in the northbound lanes at South 128th Street shortly after 4 a.m.

McDonald said the taxi driver was struck first by a pickup and then by two more vehicles, and died at the scene.

Northbound traffic early today was being detoured around the area, while the King County Medical Examiner's Office investigated the scene.

McDonald said none of the other four injury accidents in King County involved severe injuries.

In Seattle, a police officer on routine patrol lost control of his patrol car about 5:20 a.m. driving northbound on an overpass in the 4800 block of Fourth Avenue South. His vehicle crossed the center line and struck a pickup head-on, according to police spokesman Jeff Kappel.

The 49-year-old man driving the pickup was taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Kappel said. The officer was evaluated at the scene and did not require treatment. Kappel said "road conditions were extremely icy and slippery" at the time of the accident.

In Tukwila, icy roads caused three rollover collisions at Highway 599 and Tukwila International Boulevard South, according to the state Department of Transportation Department, but there were no initial reports of injuries.

In Snohomish County, troopers logged 31 highway accidents early this morning, said Trooper Jeff Leonard. In the only injury accident there, a 79-year-old man was taken to an Everett hospital with minor injuries after his vehicle spun out of control on northbound Interstate 5 and hit the Jersey barrier. The 6:40 a.m. accident blocked the two left lanes of I-5 at 40th Street Southeast in Everett.

Highway crews put down sand in several locations to help improve traction.

Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com