A semi-truck crashed over a barrier and burst into flames near the Snoqualmie Pass summit on Tuesday, sending eastbound Interstate 90 traffic down to a single lane as crews worked to put out the fire and clear the wreckage. One person was treated for minor injuries in the crash, which struck just after midday and disrupted travel through one of the state's busiest mountain corridors.
Crash Sparks Fire, Cuts Traffic to One Lane
According to KIRO 7 News Seattle, the semi caught fire after crashing over a barrier on I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass. The crash happened in the eastbound lanes near the summit, and a fire broke out soon after, as reported by applevalleynewsnow.com. Upper Kittitas County firefighters and paramedics responded at about 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, per the same account.
Traffic was reduced to one lane while emergency personnel worked the scene, and drivers were told to expect delays, the outlet reported. Officials said one person was treated for minor injuries, though further details about that person's identity or the extent of their injuries were not released.
Snoqualmie Pass's History of Highway Trouble
Tuesday's crash is only the latest reminder that the stretch of I-90 crossing Snoqualmie Pass can turn treacherous quickly. In a separate incident, the Washington State Department of Transportation reported that several collisions stretched from just west of the summit all the way to Easton, according to FOX 13 Seattle. That report noted several semis got stuck on the ascent to the summit amid wintry weather that caused vehicle pileups and stalled trucks across western Washington.
In that case, multiple collisions and stuck semi-trucks closed the roadway from west of the summit to Easton before lanes reopened, FOX 13 Seattle reported, with eastbound lanes reopening around 6:40 p.m. and westbound lanes following at 8:15 p.m. All lanes were eventually reported open again, though drivers were still asked to use caution during severe weather conditions.
Earlier Pass Closures Show a Pattern
The mountain pass has a track record of extended shutdowns when weather and traffic collide. Back on December 22, 2022, both directions of I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass closed because of multiple crashes and blocking vehicles, with at least one crash involving several semi-trucks, according to KOMO News. Eastbound I-90 was shut for more than two hours near North Bend before reopening just before noon, while westbound lanes did not reopen until 3 p.m. that day.
The Washington State Patrol reported minor injuries in those 2022 crashes, KOMO News noted, and investigators pointed to blowing snow, icy roads and low visibility as likely causes of a related westbound crash near milepost 32. Those conditions echo the kind of hazards that have repeatedly snarled traffic through the pass, though the cause of Tuesday's fire has not been determined.
