06 December 2009, 8:08 pm
Highway 162 was closed for about six hours Sunday morning at the 136th Street East Bridge near Orting after a single-car crash that killed a 49-year-old man.
The State Patrol reported that the driver of the 1993 Ford Escort later died at Tacoma General Hospital. He has been identified as Sandy L. Redding of Orting. He was the only occupant in the car.
According to the Patrol report, the Ford Escort was traveling eastbound on Highway 162 when the driver struck the bridge. The car came to rest in the middle of the roadway. The accident happened at milepost 6 two miles west of Orting at 3:13 a.m. this morning.
Both directions of the highway finally opened to traffic at about 9:15 a.m. after Department of Transportation bridge inspectors examined the structure and determined it was safe for motorists to travel across.
The collision had caused undetermined damage to the bridge and the roadway was closed until DOT personnel could inspect it.
The State Patrol and other emergency personnel responded to the scene. It is unknown at this time whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash.
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