Trucker cited for driving too fast for conditions in 38 vehicle I-90 pileup in Washington

Washington State Police (WSP) cited a semi truck driver for a speed violation following a serious pileup crash that shut down eastbound I-90 for most of the day on Wednesday.

Truck driver Jose L. Palacios, 57, of Yakima, Washington, was cited for driving too fast for conditions, according to WSP.

The pileup occurred around 5:15 a.m. on December 7 on eastbound I-90 east of Kittitas, Washington, amid dense fog and freezing temperatures.

Troopers said that Palacios was traveling eastbound on I-90 when his truck lost traction and came to a stop facing north and blocking both lanes of the interstate. Drivers were unable to maneuver around the semi truck, leading to the pileup.

WSP said that 38 vehicles were involved in the pileup. Initial vehicle counts provided by WSP shortly after the pileup indicated that about 30 vehicles were involved.

A few people suffered minor injuries in the pileup.

The crash resulted in the spillage of boxes of Honeycrisp apples on the roadway.

“Freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions this morning,” WSP noted.

Officials reopened eastbound I-90 around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.