I-90 reopens after crash involving 38 vehicles near Kittitas amid freezing fog

Colleen West,KIRO 7 News Staff
·1 min read
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Eastbound Interstate 90 was closed 16 miles east of Ellensburg for much of Wednesday due to a 38-vehicle crash likely caused by freezing fog and low visibility, troopers and fire officials said.

Investigators say the pileup began when a vehicle lost traction and came to rest in the roadway, blocking all the lanes.

Washington State Patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation crews began working to close the stretch of highway at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. The interstate was closed at milepost 115, east of Kittitas.

Just after 2 p.m., WSDOT tweeted that eastbound I-90 at milepost 115 was estimated to reopen at 4 p.m., with crews making good progress in clearing the wrecks.

WSDOT announced the highway had reopened just before 3:30 p.m.

Washington State Patrol said freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions.
Washington State Patrol said freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, according to WSDOT.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, according to WSDOT.
Washington State Patrol said freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions.
Washington State Patrol said freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions.
Washington State Patrol said freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions.
Washington State Patrol said freezing fog was a main contributor to the collisions.
Washington State Patrol said 18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the crash.
Washington State Patrol said 18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the crash.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, according to WSDOT.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, according to WSDOT.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, according to WSDOT.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, according to WSDOT.
WSDOT said the closure is expected to last until Wednesday evening.
WSDOT said the closure is expected to last until Wednesday evening.
Washington State Patrol said 18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the crash.
Washington State Patrol said 18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the crash.
Washington State Patrol said 18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the crash.
Washington State Patrol said 18 cars and 12 semis were involved in the crash.
The Washington State Patrol said as many as 30 vehicles were involved.
The Washington State Patrol said as many as 30 vehicles were involved.
The Washington State Patrol said as many as 30 vehicles were involved.
The Washington State Patrol said as many as 30 vehicles were involved.
The Washington State Patrol said as many as 30 vehicles were involved.
The Washington State Patrol said as many as 30 vehicles were involved.

Five people were treated and taken to hospitals in Quincy and Ellensburg with relatively minor injuries, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Rich Elliott said.

Elliott estimated that there were 45 to 50 vehicles within the three-quarter-mile footprint of the crash scene, many with some kind of damage, although most were not directly involved.

“If you’re planning a trip from the Puget Sound area across Snoqualmie Pass toward Spokane, you may want to delay your travel for quite a while or seek alternate routes in the meantime,” the WSP tweeted at around 7 a.m..

WSP said drivers will have to detour via local roads, U.S. 2 over Stevens Pass or U.S. 12 over White Pass.

Last Sunday, eastbound I-90 was closed near Easton after a crash involving 15 vehicles.