1 person injured from multi-car crash on South Hill highway. A driver has been arrested

A four-car crash has closed a South Hill highway early Friday morning.

A 16-year-old Puyallup boy was driving his 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee south on state Route 161 near 144th Street East when he allegedly drove into the northbound lanes and struck two vehicles at about 4:14 a.m. A fourth vehicle driving north struck the debris from the crash, according to a Washington State Patrol news release.

The teenager was arrested on suspicion of DUI vehicular assault. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup for his injuries, along with his 17-year-old passenger, the release said. The drivers of the second and third vehicles also were taken to local hospitals for their injuries.

A 56-year-old passenger in the third car was injured but not transported to the hospital, the release said. The 48-year-old driver of the fourth car was uninjured.

One person reportedly has serious, but non-life threatening injuries, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper John Dattilo on X.

State troopers have shut down Route 161 northbound at milepost 23.23 near 144th Street East until further notice from the crash that was reported at 4:30 a.m. Traffic is being diverted to 152nd Street and 144th Street, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Tow trucks are on their way so that traffic can clear up, WSDOT reported at 7:35 a.m.

9:10 a.m. update: All southbound lanes are open. The northbound left lane is open. The right lane northbound remains closed and waiting for a sweeper truck, Dattilo said on X.

Details on what led up to the crash will be released in a press memo later on Friday, Dattilo told The News Tribune.

9:50 a.m. update: The crash scene has cleared, WSDOT reported in an updated X post.