The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced around 1PM, Tuesday, October 28, 2014, that SR 18 was closed in both direction between I-90 and Issaquah Hobart Road due to a serious accident blocking the eastbound and westbound freeway lanes.
Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Chris Webb stated via Twitter that the serious injury accident involved two semi trucks and one car, occurring about a half-mile west of I-90.
Webb said two semi trucks and a van were heading westbound on SR 18 when the accident occurred. The 81-year old driver of the van was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. The truck drivers were okay. Webb said the freeway closure could be lengthy as there was lots of oil on the roadway.
Locally, residents reported seeing multiple emergency vehicle respond in the area and and a life flight helicopter landing at Jeanne Hansen Park in the Eagle Pointe neighborhood of Snoqualmie Ridge. The City of Snoqualmie said the victim was transported by ambulance to the waiting helicopter for airlift to the hospital.
SR 18 was reopened in both directions by 4PM. Unfortunately, numerous vehicles used alternate routes, causing traffic congestion in the area, including SR 900 in Issaquah.
Comments
The phrase “traffic congestion” in describing the closure of SR 18 Tuesday afternoon is a massive understatement. All I-90 Issaquah exits were backed up onto the freeway and all roads in Issaquah were clogged with vehicles going nowhere for hours. Closures of SR 18 result in a critical traffic situation.