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Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Image 2 of 9 The scene is shown after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, sending six to the hospital. less The scene is shown after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 3 of 9 The scene is shown after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, sending six to the hospital. less The scene is shown after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 4 of 9 Backed up traffic is shown on 5th Avenue NE after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, sending six to the hospital. less Backed up traffic is shown on 5th Avenue NE after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 5 of 9 Image 6 of 9 Specrtators look over the scene after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, sending six to the hospital. less Specrtators look over the scene after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 7 of 9 The scene is shown after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, sending six to the hospital. less The scene is shown after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 8 of 9 A suspension part is shown on the road after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into the other cars, sending six to the hopsital. less A suspension part is shown on the road after a nine car pileup near Northgate Mall on 1st Avenue NE in Seattle on Wednesday February 15, 2012. A woman driving a truck was fleeing police when she crashed into ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 9 of 9 Six people hurt after police chase near Northgate 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Six people were hurt after a woman fleeing from Seattle police Wednesday afternoon caused a pile-up involving nine cars near Northgate Mall.

The incident at Northeast 107th Street and First Avenue Northeast closed traffic on First, causing backups for miles. Medics were called to the scene at 3:55 p.m. and the northbound Interstate 5 exit to Northgate was closed during the investigation.

The 21-year-old woman who was critically injured had been driving erratically when police tried to stop her truck – one that was driving without front tires – near the 9200 block of First Avenue Northeast. Investigators say she accelerated towards the intersection of First Avenue North and North 107th Street after officers turned on their lights to initiate a traffic stop.

“The driver drove through the intersection at a high rate of speed, striking multiple vehicles,” Detective Renee Witt said. “The driver appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.”

Three others were taken to Harborview Medical Center with serious injures: a 19-year-old woman, 24-year-old woman and 29-year-old man. Two others had minor injuries but refused treatment, fire department spokeswoman Kyle Moore said.

Traffic collision investigators were called to the scene, which was expected to cause backups through the afternoon commute.

For more Seattle police and crime news visit the front page of the Seattle 911 blog.