Fatal collision involving semi, pedestrian closes multiple lanes of southbound I-5

A woman was killed in a semitruck crash Wednesday morning after she deliberately lay down in the middle of traffic on Interstate 5 near Kent, according to the Washington State Patrol.

All but the HOV lane of southbound I-5 was blocked to traffic as firefighters cleared debris from the crash just north of Highway 516, according to a tweet from the State Patrol. 

The victim — who was identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office as 51-year-old Julia Villalobos — died at the scene.

Four lanes were closed before 5 a.m. Wednesday, according to the tweet from Trooper Rick Johnson. By 7:30 a.m., all lanes were closed, but the HOV lane reopened by 7:40, according to the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

By 6:45 a.m., traffic was backed up 5 miles, according to WSDOT.

Medics, firefighters and the State Patrol responded to the scene, according to WSDOT.