Car Accident in Orting Kills Driver

Highway 162 was closed for about six hours Sunday morning at the 136th Street East Bridge near Orting after a single-car crash that killed a 49-year-old man.

Driving a 1993 Ford Escort, the man was taken from the scene by ambulance and later died at Tacoma General Hospital.

According to the Patrol report, the Ford Escort was traveling eastbound on Highway 162 when the driver struck the bridge. The car came to rest in the middle of the roadway. The accident happened at milepost 6 two miles west of Orting at 3:13 a.m. this morning.

The collision had caused undetermined damage to the bridge and the roadway was closed until DOT personnel could inspect it.

Washington state is littered with rivers and lakes. As a result bridges of all sizes and styles have been constructed over the 150+ year history of the state. Narrow lanes and icy conditions often make bridge driving more hazardous. Cool breezes of wind off of rivers and lakes can reduce road surface temperatures five degrees or more often leading to ice when surrounding temperatures may be above freezing. With a strong winter system approaching, drivers should take care and beware of dangerous bridges while traveling during the winter.

While it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs played a role in this crash, it serves as a reminder that bridges can lead to serious and deadly accidents.