Six people were injured in a two-vehicle collision in Lakewood on Tuesday afternoon that sparked fires in both cars and sent flames close enough to a nearby house to melt exterior siding, according to West Pierce Fire and Rescue and Lakewood police.
Crews responded at approximately 3:54 p.m. to the 3200 block of South 84th Street, where a westbound Subaru collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe that was turning onto the road heading east. Both vehicles caught fire following the impact. The Tahoe came to rest next to a residential property, where flames melted the exterior siding but did not breach the interior of the home. No one inside the house was injured.
Five people were transported to hospital. They included the Tahoe’s driver, an adult female passenger who suffered a serious head injury, and two children under the age of 10 who were seated in the back. The Subaru’s driver, a man in his 20s, was also taken to hospital. A sixth person was treated at the scene and did not require transport.
Investigators said there were no signs of impairment, though speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the collision. Firefighters contained both vehicle fires and prevented the flames from spreading further into the home. A fuel spill from one of the vehicles was described as not significant, though the Washington Department of Ecology responded to assist with cleanup.
Lakewood police are investigating the crash.
