Crash damages Alaskan Way Viaduct

Summary

Police say a car spun around on the northbound lanes and struck a cement barrier, sending debris all over the roadway and left a section of the viaduct barrier dangling over the roadway below.

Story Published: Mar 3, 2008 at 7:50 AM PST

Story Updated: Mar 3, 2008 at 7:50 AM PST

Crash damages Alaskan Way Viaduct
SEATTLE -- A young driver suffered minor injuries and his passenger was OK after a crash that damaged the Alaskan Way Viaduct early Monday morning.

Seattle police say the driver was going northbound on the viaduct around 4 a.m. when he hit a barrier over Columbia Street and spun around.

The impact destroyed the car, leaving the engine on the street below, debris scattered across the northbound lanes of the viaduct, and a 20-foot segment of the cement barrier dangling over the elevated highway.

The 21-year-old driver was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of an ankle injury. His passenger was not injured.

Northbound lanes were closed for a while before reopening around 6 a.m., although the lane near the damaged barrier remained closed for repair.

No word on what caused the crash.