A truck driver was injured near Cle Elum this morning when he rolled his rig, during a chain-reaction crash that left the interstate covered in corn.
Corn anyone? This is the reason why we have I-90 down to a single lane WB near Easton. Things are getting cleaned up, but expect delays. pic.twitter.com/6UYpaGu5eo
— I-90 Snoqualmie Pass (@SnoqualmiePass) August 11, 2017
According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-90 west of Cle Elum.
Initial Rollover Causes Several Chain Reaction Crashes
Troopers say that 35 year old truck driver Michael S. Casey changed lanes in an attempt to avoid fog. The lane change caused Casey’s truck to roll.
Fifty-nine year old truck driver Thomas Hume saw Casey crash and tried to take evasive maneuvers to avoid the wrecked truck. However, he over corrected and wound up rolling his own truck, which was hauling corn. Large amounts of corn spilled out onto the roadway during the crash.
#UPDATE @WSDOT_East was able to push semis & corn onto shoulder to help clear backups! WB I-90 remains CLOSED. Cleanup will take hours. pic.twitter.com/F3L2d8e5xl
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) August 11, 2017
Then 55 year old motorist Cynthia Sneed also swerved to avoid the rolled semis and rear ended a semi driven by 46 year old Richard Globe, who was on the shoulder as he also tried to avoid the crashed trucks.
The crash recovery caused heavy traffic backups on I-90. In those backups, a motorist rear ended another vehicle in slowed traffic. That motorist suffered serious injuries.
#BREAKING Serious injury collision WB I-90 MP 70. Earlier collisions caused backups. Driver rear ended stopped traffic. HWY BLOCKED pic.twitter.com/nV7oA0KLjD
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) August 11, 2017
Hume was hurt and taken to the hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
Two Truckers Charged Following Crash
The Washington State Patrol says that Casey was driving too fast. Casey and Hume were both charged with a “wheels off the roadway” violation.
#UPDATE WB I-90 OPEN. Final semi will be removed tomorrow morning. Follow @SnoqualmiePass for updates! #SlowDown & #BeSafe It's Friday! pic.twitter.com/30hhJMCkOX
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) August 11, 2017