MERCER ISLAND, Wash. — Washington State Patrol said a speeding motorcyclist hit the back of a UPS truck Thursday evening on westbound Interstate 90 near Mercer Island.
The motorcyclist did not survive.
The crash snarled the evening commute, closing all westbound lanes for hours.
Backups reached upwards of three miles long, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Traffic was diverted off to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island and back onto westbound I-90.
Lanes reopened shortly before 11 p.m.
WB I-90 traffic is being diverted at Island Crest Way after an earlier crash just west of the #MercerIsland Tunnel.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 6, 2024
The backup is still about 3 miles. We have no estimate when the highway will reopen. Please continue to use alternate routes. https://t.co/06X7dbEQ77 pic.twitter.com/LMk1LKDVKV
©2024 Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/EQFLTTW5ERC2XEYH2RZMTLSI3A.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/G6VBYYLBDBFTLN7QTGITFJ52RY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ZZNUOJPPYNEVDH4A7QPX34OKQE.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/FENY3YJL7BGRXHTC36HSMTLH7I.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ZNGCPWVPYJGZHI5P2OT6PQ2PWY.jpg)