Eastside News

SR 18 reopens after crashes, downed trees

SR 18 reopened overnight after bad weather caused a number of problems Monday and Tuesday.

Traction tires were required as of Wednesday morning.

A tree fell on the highway Monday night, blocking all lanes of traffic near the Issaquah-Hobart Road Exit.

The tree fell around the same time investigators had cleared a crash involving three semis also near the Issaquah-Hobart Road exit that shut down all lanes of westbound SR 18 for nearly 8 hours.

A KIRO 7 crew was in the area reporting on the pileup when a plow in the eastbound lanes, just across the highway divider, had to stop because of a stalled semi blocking traffic around 8 p.m.

The Washington State Patrol then shut down eastbound lanes of SR 18, in addition to the westbound lanes, and later reopened the highway around 10 p.m. The tree fell across the highway shortly after.

Troopers say the semi driver who caused the initial pileup in the westbound lanes around 2 p.m. was likely driving too fast for the snowy conditions and lost control, hitting a barrier.

A second semi driver tried to avoid this truck and jackknifed, hitting the first truck and a barrier. The third semi driver was also not able to stop, according to troopers, and hit the second truck.

One truck driver was transported to the hospital after being rescued from the crushed semi. Troopers said the driver’s condition was not immediately available but described that person as being conscious when taken to the hospital.

More news from KIRO 7

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