According to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Traffic twitter feed, at 7AM, November 12, 2013, SR 18 was closed at I-90 due to an accident blocking all lanes of traffic at the Tiger Mountain Summit.
WSDOT said the accident, involving a semi truck carrying a load of crushed cars, occurred around 6:45AM. Washington State Patrol further explained the truck was hauling two trailers and the back trailer came loose.
Both directions of SR 18 reopened by 8:30AM. During the closure, Snoqualmie Parkway was backed up about a 1/2 mile to Swenson Drive with drivers waiting to enter westbound I-90. Once on I-90, it was reportedly clear sailing.
Further east in North Bend, witnesses reported North Bend Way was closed near the Rangers Station, between Thrasher and Mt. Si Road, for another accident. One witness reported seeing an “older passenger van that appeared to have been broad-sided.”
According to Sgt. Cindi West of the King County Sheriff’s Office, the North Bend Way incident was a one-car roll over accident. The driver was injured and transported to an area hospital. West later confirmed the driver unfortunately did not survive. Police are still investigating, but think a heart attack may have caused the accident.
WSDOT said this morning was, “A horribly slow traffic day. Wet pavement not helping. Leave early and prepare for major delays.”
Take it slow and be careful out there!
Comments
North Bend Way closed between Thrasher and Mt. Si Rd. due to some sort of accident.
Info on nb way accident: the driver was taken to Swedish hospital in Issaquah, WA. Please correct the information.
I am so glad that I don’t have to go over tiger mountain to work anymore. I always felt like I was taking my life in my hands every morning…. pouring rain, visibility about 1 foot in front of my bumper, semis going 65mph the opposite direction…. *shudder*