CHOKEPOINTS

WSDOT: Semitruck blew past traffic control, injuring worker on I-90 east; 13-mile backup

Apr 22, 2025, 1:59 PM | Updated: 3:59 pm

I-90 east crash...

A crash on I-90 east involving a semitruck. (Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)

(Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Transportation)

If you’re planning to head east on I-90 Tuesday, brace yourself. While agencies have reopened all lanes, a long-term crash near Easton has caused significant backups.

The Washington State Department of Transportation announced, via X, that a semitruck blew through the agency’s traffic control and injured an employee in the work zone.

“Work Zone Awareness Week is only two days in—and we’ve already had at least one crash in a work zone each day,” WSDOT wrote in its post. “We can do better. Slow down. Stay focused. Help protect the people in orange.”

Photos from WSDOT cameras showed a bent semitruck leaning off one side of the highway as crews worked to clear the blockage.

The backup is extensive, stretching 13 miles to Lake Keechelus. What’s normally a straightforward drive from North Bend to Ellensburg has turned into a test of patience, taking around 4 hours and 40 minutes.

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WSDOT: Semitruck blew past traffic control, injuring worker on I-90 east; 13-mile backup