UPDATE | JUNE 16TH, 11:40AM
WSDOT said crews had reopened the left lane of westbound I-90 through the accident scene. They hope to have other lanes reopened soon.
ORIGINAL STORY
Tuesday, June 16, 2020 has been a busy morning on westbound I-90 in the Snoqualmie Valley area.
After an early morning wrong-way, suspected DUI collision closed westbound lanes just east of North Bend, another collision halted traffic and closed westbound lanes near milepost 27 (Snoqualmie Casino exit.)
The second accident occurred around 8:30AM. Washington State DOT said it involved a semi truck and resulted in it catching fire, which fully blocked all westbound lanes. The truck was hauling rolls of carpets.
WSP Trooper Rick Johnson said a passenger in the semi was transported to Harborview Medical Center and to expect a lengthy closure as firefighters clean up the scene.
As a result of the accident, westbound I-90 was closed at milepost 31 near the North Bend Outlet Mall.
Snoqualmie City councilmember Sean Sundwall was near the accident and said the semi was completely engulfed in the westbound lanes between I-90 exit 27 (Snoqualmie Casino) and exit 25 (I-90/SR18 interchange).
He said the semi driver appeared to have escaped the truck cab and was being treated by EMT’s.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Comments
Allowing all of the semis to detour through downtown North Bend is not smart. I saw numerous semis unable to make the roundabouts without cutting across the center island.
Semis should have to wait until the interstate is open to proceed. I know this is a hardship, but the alternative is unsafe and is going to be costly to city when repairs are needed.
The islands in the roundabouts you mention are designed such that semi-trucks cut across them. What you are seeing is “by design”, and allows long trucks to use the roundabouts.
Is it safe and wise to have trucks going through downtown North Bend? That’s a totally different question!!