MARYSVILLE, Wash. -- A fiery three-vehicle crash killed one person, injured eight other people and blocked the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 for hours near Smokey Point in Snohomish County on Wednesday afternoon, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.

Slideshow

FIERY CRASH Slideshow: Fiery 3-Car Crash Leaves 1 Dead

The crash happened when a Chevy Suburban crossed the freeway's median and hit a Ford Explorer and a Toyota pickup, which were traveling northbound near Mile Post 206, Washington State Patrol troopers said.

A person sitting in the passenger seat of the Suburban was killed.

"I just saw all the dirt and everything flying and then the cables whipping up from the middle of the median, and we knew something bad happened," said a witness, who didn't want to be identified.

Traffic was detoured through Marysville while the wreckage was removed and troopers investigated.

A semi-truck driver who saw the crash pulled over and towed the Suburban away from the fires. Trooper credited the driver with saving the lives of the survivors in that vehicle, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported.