NORTH BEND, Wash. — The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) says I-90 will be closed after a landslide completely blocked eastbound lanes near North Bend.
Traffic backed up behind the site, with cars being diverted off at Exit 27 toward Snoqualmie-North Bend Rd.
The landslide trapped and hit several cars and completely blocked the eastbound lanes of the roadway, causing traffic for drivers.
Abbey Walker was driving to North Bend to help her grandma during the floods when she saw what looked like a giant “blob” in front of her crossing the road.
“Then I realized, ‘Oh, it’s a mudslide, this is happening right now,’” she said. “I slammed on my brakes. I’m sliding. I see the white truck that’s in the picture kind of bobbing around. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re going in.’”
Thankfully, Walker stopped in time and was okay.
“I’m panicking, because I’m thinking, ‘Is the rest of the hillside going to start coming down?’” she said.
The drivers who were caught in the landslide were able to get out of their cars safely.
One woman was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, according to WSP.
Crews are still concerned that the area around the landslide might be unstable, as water continued to rush down the hillsides near the site Wednesday night.
WSP is warning drivers heading out tonight to have a full tank of gas. Six drivers had run out of gas in the middle of the traffic on Wednesday night, according to WSP.
The landslide was caused by historic flooding brought in by an atmospheric river.
Governor Bob Ferguson has declared a state of emergency.
No word on when the roadway will reopen.