PIERCE COUNTY, WA : A male motorcyclist was killed in a multi-vehicle collision on Thursday, August 31, 2017

A male motorcyclist was killed Thursday afternoon in a multi-vehicle collision on eastbound state Route 512 at Steele Street near Parkland, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The crash happened about 4:10 p.m. Thursday causing all lanes of eastbound SR 512 to close. All lanes have now reopened after being closed for several hours.
According to State Patrol, the collision involved five vehicles and a motorcycle.
The crash was reportedly sparked by a semi truck heading eastbound who hit a car when attempting to change lanes. The car then reportedly hit a pickup truck driving eastbound. The semi truck then reportedly hit another pickup truck.
The pickup truck then hit another car, according to State Patrol.
At some point in the crash, the motorcyclist, also headed eastbound, was either involved in the collision or trying to avoid the incident, according to State Patrol. The motorcyclist died at the scene.
The driver of the car hit by the semi truck and the driver's two children were taken to Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma, according to State Patrol. One of the children reportedly has a broken leg. The two children were reportedly the only passengers involved in the incident.
None of the other individuals involved in the crash were injured, according to State Patrol.

Trooper Brooke Bova with State Patrol said that the investigation is complex and because the incident involved a fatality and multiple vehicles, a drug recognition expert has been brought to the scene to check out the semi truck driver.
Ramps from Interstate 5 to eastbound SR 512 are also closed, according to State Patrol.

Source :
Motorcyclist killed in multi-vehicle crash on SR 512 near Lakewood