A crash involving a tanker carrying butane and multiple vehicles has resulted in a rollover of the tanker on Interstate 5 between I-90 and the West Seattle Bridge in both directions. The Washington State Department of Transportation has warned driver to expect heavy congestion to and through downtown Seattle. They haven’t given an estimated time for reopening and drivers should use alternate routes or expect lengthy delays.

The collision happened around 10:30 a.m. on the southbound collector distributor lanes of I-5. Firefighters and aid crews transported three people to the hospital. They reportedly suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Since butane is highly flammable, Washington State Patrol and the Seattle Police are evacuating homeless camps below I-5 in the area and extinguishing any campfires. They also have hazmat teams assessing the situation.

While butane is a natural gas, the extraction and transportation of this fuel isn’t carbon neutral. The transportation of this fuel adds to CO2 levels, while that manufacturing within the industry also increases carbon into the atmosphere.