EB I-90 closed during morning commute after carjacker crashes car in Mercer Island tunnel
Apr 5, 2016, 5:27 AM | Updated: 6:59 am
Eastbound I-90 has been closed, starting in Seattle, after a carjacker crashed a stolen can in the tunnel on Mercer Island. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Police closed eastbound I-90 Tuesday morning after a carjacker stole a vehicle and caused a collision inside the tunnel on Mercer Island. The closure began in Seattle. It ended at about 7 a.m. but traffic remained sluggish as it recovered.
Entrances to I-90 around Rainier Avenue in Seattle were closed, preventing eastbound traffic as investigators inspected the scene. Express lanes on I-90 were opened for eastbound drivers, instead of the usual westbound morning traffic.
At around 4:10 a.m. a carjacker approached a family who was loading their vehicle in the 500 block of Lakeside Avenue South. The carjacker implied they had a gun and took the car. The family called 911 and police engaged in a search.
The stolen car was spotted traveling at a high rate of speed traveling eastbound on I-90. Not long after, the stolen vehicle was involved in a collision underneath the Mercer Island lid on I-90. Police have taken the suspect into custody.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
I-90 EB – all lanes are OPENING now, but big backups remain. Here is a look at our crews picking up cones pic.twitter.com/B1dUcDVYVi
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) April 5, 2016
On I-90 right by the Mercer Island Lid where main EB lanes closed after carjacking in downtown. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/bAGwkBAdO1
— Patranya Bhoolsuwan (@PatranyaKIRO7) April 5, 2016
They've set up a barrier EB I-90 at Rainier Ave S- armed carjacking, police pursuit, crash inside Mercer Tunnel. pic.twitter.com/13R7fFE25Q
— Alexis Smith (@AlexisKIRO7) April 5, 2016
