BENTON COUNTY, WA — A 12-vehicle crash on Highway 397 in Benton County left two people dead and several others injured, according to Benton County Fire District 1 and the Washington State Patrol.
Officials said the collision involved passenger vehicles and two semitrucks, including one carrying hazardous materials. Fire district officials said none of that material leaked, easing one immediate concern as crews worked the scene.
The crash forced a shutdown of Highway 397 between Nine Canyon and Interstate 82, with no access available at Olympia. Drivers were urged to stay away so emergency personnel could continue their response safely and without delay.
Second death reported as investigators keep checking the crash scene
Washington State Patrol Trooper Daniel Mosqueda later said a second person was reportedly dead from injuries tied to the crash. That update came after the initial report from Benton County Fire District 1, which had said one person had been killed and several more had been hurt.
Authorities have not released the names of those killed or injured. They have also not said how many people were taken to hospitals, or whether any of the injured were among the drivers or passengers in the larger vehicles.
The scene remained under investigation as crews and troopers continued to sort out what happened in the chain-reaction collision.
Strong winds may have been a factor in the pileup
Mosqueda said investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash, but strong winds are believed to have played a part in the collisions. That detail has become one of the main leads as officials try to understand how the crash spread across multiple vehicles.
No official cause has been announced, and authorities have not said whether speed, visibility, road conditions or other factors also contributed. For now, the crash remains an active investigation by the Washington State Patrol.
Because the collision involved so many vehicles, investigators are likely reviewing the sequence carefully before making any conclusions public.
Hazardous materials truck did not leak after impact
Among the vehicles involved were two semitrucks, including one hauling hazardous materials. Benton County Fire District 1 said the material did not leak, which prevented the crash from turning into an environmental cleanup or exposure incident.
That detail was important because crashes involving hazardous cargo can quickly become more dangerous for firefighters, motorists and nearby residents. In this case, officials said the cargo stayed contained.
Fire crews did not provide additional information about the truck’s contents or whether any special response units were needed at the scene.
Highway 397 closed between Nine Canyon and Interstate 82
The crash shut down Highway 397 between Nine Canyon and Interstate 82, creating a major disruption for local traffic. Officials said there was no access available at Olympia, adding to the detours and delays in the area.
Drivers were told to avoid the corridor entirely and give emergency personnel room to work. With a 12-vehicle wreck spread across the roadway, access would have been limited until investigators and tow crews could clear the scene.
Because the highway serves as a key route in the area, the closure likely affected travelers heading through Benton County during the response period.
What officials have said so far and what remains unanswered
Benton County Fire District 1 said additional details would come from the Washington State Patrol, which is leading the investigation. So far, officials have confirmed the size of the crash, the number of deaths reported, the presence of semitrucks, and the fact that hazardous materials did not leak.
Still unknown are the names of those involved, the exact sequence of events and whether the highway had reopened by the time of the latest update. Investigators have also not said what specific wind conditions were present or whether those conditions were severe enough to trigger the pileup on their own.
For now, the focus remains on clearing the roadway, caring for the injured and determining how the crash unfolded.
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