Suspected DUI driver arrested after crash, vehicle fire in Mount Baker Tunnel – KIRO 7 News Seattle

SEATTLE – A driver is in custody on suspected nuisance after a single car accident and fire left Interstate 90 west on Island Crest Way for hours on Sunday afternoon.

According to Washington State Patrol (WSP), a driver was traveling west on I-90 when his car crashed into the side wall of the Mount Baker Tunnel in Seattle at around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Shortly after the accident, a passing driver stopped near the collision, ran to the accident vehicle and pulled the driver out. Both people could be seen running out of the crashed car.

The car caught fire, which triggered the emergency call system in the tunnel. When activated, fire retardant foam is sprayed to saturate the tunnel and large fans turn on, pushing smoke out of the tunnel.

When the rescue workers arrived, the tunnel was covered with foam protection and the car was still completely on fire.

According to the WSP, the crews were able to extinguish the flames quickly. However, cleaning the retarder took hours.

“It wasn’t necessarily the collision, it was really cleaning the fire retardant and making sure the road was safe to drive,” said Trooper Johnson. “We had to call the Department of Ecology and make sure there weren’t any problems with the foam getting into the sewers.”

The collision and the subsequent cleanup required the tunnel to be closed for more than three hours.

WSP diverted traffic to a driveway near Mercer Street until it was able to reopen a lane in the tunnel at around 7:30 p.m.

At around 8:40 p.m., the Washington State Department of Transportation tweeted that the crews had reopened I-90 and traffic through the tunnel had resumed.

According to the WSP, the driver left the scene of the accident before the first responders arrived. He was seen on a DOT camera walking out of the tunnel towards Rainier.

“The driver’s father called us and we landed on Cherry Hill in Swedish and then took the driver into custody for suspected impairment,” said WSP trooper Rick Johnson.

As of Sunday evening, WSP had no update on the driver’s condition but said he was in police custody at the Swedish medical center where he was being treated.

A DOT employee and soldier were also sent to hospital for chemical exposure – they are expected to be fine, according to the WSP.

The crash is being investigated.

Here is a picture from the collision in the Mt Baker Tunnel. The driver fled on foot and the soldiers are now at Swedish Cherry Hill with the driver. More information will follow. pic.twitter.com/FP6ytPUi9D

– Soldier Rick Johnson (@ wspd2pio) September 6, 2021

UPDATE: The crews were able to open the right lane on I-90 WB through the tunnel. It will be a while before all lanes are open again. We know it’s frustrating to get stuck in situations like this. We work together with our partners so that you can get back on the move safely and quickly. https://t.co/OlxTY5dFf0

– WSDOT traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 6, 2021

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