Overturned cement truck clogs traffic on Aurora Ave. North

SEATTLE -- Traffic on Aurora Ave. North was blocked for hours Friday afternoon after a cement truck overturned and hit three other vehicles, officials said.

The driver of the cement truck, a man in his 30s, suffered serious injuries when it overturned and landed on its side. The driver of a pickup truck that was hit sustained lesser injuries.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene, the southbound lanes of Aurora Avenue North and North 72nd Street, just after 2 p.m., said Kyle Moore of the Seattle Fire Department.

When medics arrived, they found that the cement truck driver had managed to escape from his rig, but he had suffered some serious injuries in the accident. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious but stable condition, Moore said.

Medics also treated a man in his 40s with lesser injuries who was inside a pickup truck hit by the cement truck. He also was taken to Harborview as a precaution.

Occupants of another pickup truck and passenger car hit in the crash were not hurt, said Jonah Spangenthal-Lee of the Seattle Police Department.

Fuel and hydraulic spilled from the cement truck after the crash, but crews were able to contain it before it leaked into storm drains.

All southbound lanes of Aurora Avenue North were blocked at the accident scene, along with two northbound lanes. Crews were able to clear the scene and reopen the road after 6 p.m.