ISSAQUAH, Wash. — State Route 18 reopened in both directions Wednesday morning following an hours-long closure after a car struck a semi-truck head-on, the Washington State Patrol said.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shared an update around 8 a.m. indicating that the scene just west of Interstate 90 had been cleared and the roadway was reopened.
According to state patrol, a driver crossed the center line and hit the semi-truck head-on.
Trooper Rick Johnson said the driver of the car was taken to Harborview Medical Center, and that no impairment was suspected as the cause of the collision. No additional information was available on the condition of the driver.
This is one of many crashes along the same stretch of Highway 18 this year.
On Monday, Highway 18 between I-90 and Issaquah Hobart Road was closed due to a crash.
On July 13, a five-vehicle crash shut down the highway in the same area for hours.
According to WSDOT's collision data map, there have been at least 24 crashes from the Highway 18 and I-90 interchange to Issaquah Hobart Road this year. Two of those were fatal.
There are currently two projects in the area. One will turn the I-90-Highway 18 interchange into a diverging diamond. Another project will widen Highway 18. The projects are meant to improve traffic flow and reduce crashes, according to WSDOT.
Johnson told KING 5 that when it comes to implementing safety measures during the projects, WSDOT has done everything it can. He also said there is plenty of signage along the highway warning them of the construction.
The speed limit was also reduced along certain stretches of the highway.