Multi-Vehicle Collision and Truck Rollover Spells Major Traffic Gridlock for State Route 18 Near Maple Valley

A severe multi-vehicle collision caused massive traffic disruptions for commuters on State Route 18 on Friday afternoon near Maple Valley.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported that the incident occurred in the eastbound lanes just east of Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast. The crash involved a commercial box truck that rolled over onto its side, spilling its cargo across the roadway. At least one other vehicle sustained major damage in the wreck, forcing the complete closure of all eastbound lanes for several hours.

To help ease the resulting gridlock, emergency crews managed to reopen one westbound lane to allow stranded eastbound drivers to turn around and exit the highway. Westbound traffic was also heavily impacted, backed up for several miles as Washington State Patrol troopers and emergency personnel worked to clear the scene and investigate the cause of the crash. Drivers were strongly advised to find alternate routes through the area.