SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — Troopers are investigating a fatal crash on State Route 18 near Snoqualmie on Wednesday.
The crash blocked both eastbound and westbound lanes in between I-90 and Tiger Summit.
After 4:30 p.m., a driveline -- a heavy metal part for a vehicle -- struck a sedan traveling eastbound, which spun into the westbound lanes and was struck by a small SUV traveling westbound.
The driver of the sedan died at the scene and the driver of the SUV was taken to Overlake. Her condition is unknown.
The Washington State Patrol later identified the driver who died as 57-year-old Kyung Cho of Federal Way.
Witnesses reported the driveline was skidding down the road. Troopers said the driveline likely came off a vehicle carrying an unsecured load.
“They'll look at the driveline, and try to determine if there are any identifying numbers,” said Trooper Rick Johnson.
If the driveline came off a functioning vehicle, the vehicle would have been disabled in the area. Troopers did not find any disabled or abandoned vehicles in the area.
The incident recalls another case in Washington that started a crackdown on unsecured loads. In February 2004, Maria Federici was driving when plywood smashed through her windshield. She was blinded. A law bearing her name has fines and charges for drivers with unsecured loads.
“It is against the law to not secure your load, whatever it is that you're carrying so if this came out of the back of a pickup or out of a junk hauler whatever it was we'll do our best to find that out,” Johnson said.
The WSP is asking anyone who was driving in the area of SR 18 and I-90 around 4 and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, and may have seen something, to give them a call.
The crash remains under investigation.
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