A Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) worker was injured Tuesday morning when a semi-truck collided with a stationary work zone vehicle on Interstate 90 near Cle Elum.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred around 10 a.m. at milepost 74. Investigators say a 60-year-old man was operating a 2010 Peterbilt tractor-trailer eastbound on I-90 when he failed to move over for a marked lane closure. His semi struck a WSDOT attenuator truck that was parked as part of the work zone setup. The impact totaled both vehicles. The driver of the DOT vehicle, 59-year-old Daryl Lee of Kittitas, was transported to Kittitas Valley Hospital with injuries. The semi driver was uninjured but was cited for reckless driving.
When I hear about a crash where a semi-truck strikes a clearly marked work zone vehicle, I think about the fundamental safety expectations that commercial drivers are required to meet, especially around construction and maintenance crews. In my experience, these cases often come down to attentiveness and whether the driver was operating the truck safely for the conditions.
Could Distraction or Fatigue Have Contributed to the Driver’s Failure to React?
One of the most critical questions in this case is whether the truck driver was fully alert and attentive when approaching the work zone. At highway speeds, commercial truck drivers are expected to recognize signage, lane closures, and attenuator trucks positioned specifically to protect workers. Investigators will need to examine the semi driver’s hours-of-service logs, rest periods, cell phone data, and in-cab data to determine whether fatigue, distraction, or other factors may have delayed his reaction.
Could Vehicle Condition Have Played a Role?
While the primary factor appears to be driver behavior, it’s still important for investigators to review the mechanical condition of the semi-truck involved. If there were any issues with the truck’s braking system, tires, or steering components, these could have affected the driver’s ability to slow down or maneuver when approaching the work zone.
What Evidence Should Be Examined?
To fully understand why the semi-truck failed to move over and struck a stationary work zone vehicle, investigators will need to collect and analyze several key pieces of evidence. The semi-truck’s ECM data will be especially important. This data can help establish whether the driver made any attempt to slow down or react before the impact. Investigators should also review logbooks, electronic logging devices (ELDs), and any dispatch communication records to confirm the driver’s hours of service and rule out fatigue-related issues. In addition to the truck’s internal data, physical evidence from the crash scene—such as skid marks, vehicle resting positions, and debris patterns—can help reconstruct the timeline of events.
Why a Thorough Investigation Is So Important
In crashes involving commercial trucks and work zones, there is often an immediate focus on the failure to follow posted instructions, but that’s only part of the story. From my experience, the only way to fully understand what happened is through a complete investigation that considers driver awareness, the mechanical condition of the truck, and the sequence of events leading up to the collision. That process helps ensure that those affected get the answers they need.