Car is folded in half and crushed underneath semi — and driver survives, Washington police say

MOUNT VERNON, Washington (Idaho Statesman) — A car was hit from behind and folded in half — then a semi crushed it, Washington police said.

The driver survived with only minor injuries, Washington State Patrol public information officer Rocky Oliphant said.

“There’s really not a word to describe this collision. Miraculously believed to be minor injuries,” Oliphant said on Twitter. “In my 14-year career, I have never seen anything like it.”

The Nissan Altima was on the I-5 Skagit River Bridge in Mount Vernon on Tuesday, Nov. 16, when it was struck from behind, Oliphant said. The semi-truck came to a stop on top of the car, crushing it underneath.

There’s really not a word to describe this collision. Miraculously believed to be minor injuries. The car was struck from behind, folded the car in half, and semi came to rest on top of the car. In my 14 year career, I have never seen anything like it. https://t.co/iUsSNIhHYV pic.twitter.com/EPGI70s3Um

— Trooper Rocky Oliphant (@wspd7pio) November 16, 2021

The person was stuck in the crushed car because traffic on the bridge was causing the semi-truck to move, Oliphant said.

“Both NB and SB lanes were closed due to the collision being on the bridge and a person still in the vehicle that was resting under a semi-truck,” Oliphant said. “Traffic was causing the bridge to move and the semi was unstable.”

A tow lifted the front end of the semi-truck off the car, allowing the bridge to reopen to traffic, Oliphant said.

Oliphant told KOMO News the semi-truck driver was fined $189 after getting cited for “following too closely.”