One dead after collision on SR-14 near Camas Slough Bridge

One person is dead and seven others injured following a major traffic accident that has closed both lanes of traffic on a portion of state Route 14 in Camas since late this afternoon.

According to a Washington State Department of Transportation bulletin, the multi-vehicle collision occurred at approximately 4:38 p.m. in the eastbound lanes at Mile Post 13 on the Camas Slough Bridge in a construction zone.

According to State Trooper Ryan Tanner, a cement truck was traveling eastbound at 4:38 p.m. when one of its tires failed and it veered into the westbound traffic lane. The truck collided with three passenger cars carrying a total of seven people.

Tanner said he was in the process of notifying the deceased woman’s next of kin, and the names of all of those involved would not be released until 10 p.m. or later.

All lanes of the Camas Slough Bridge are currently blocked as crews work to clear the roadway, and are not expected to re-open until 9 p.m., according to WSDOT. Vehicles are being detoured at Exit 12 through downtown Camas.

Since early June when work commenced on the state Route 14 safety improvement project, the stretch of highway from just west of the Camas Slough Bridge to 15th Street in Washougal has been the site of intense construction activities.

Tanner said the cement truck involved in today’s collision, however, was not part of the state Route 14 safety improvement project, but was traveling from another project based in the Portland area.

The Washington State Patrol continues to investigate the accident.