North Bend woman dies in head-on crash on highway notorious for collisions
ISSAQUAH, Wash. (KOMO) – Crews have just finished picking up what's left of the deadly head-on collision that killed a North Bend woman on SR 18 near Issaquah.
The woman driving had crossed over the center line and collided into the semi-truck on Saturday, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). She died on impact.
The man who was driving the semi-truck was transported to the hospital.
WSPs say they have not yet determined what caused the woman to cross the center lane. Officials say drugs and alcohol were not involved.
Now what's left on the side of SR 18 serves as a reminder of that tragic Saturday.
“There’s always something going up on 18,” said Ashley Ford, who lives in the area. “I mean it’s just something we recognize here in this community.”
According to Ford, her husband was caught in the traffic stemming from Saturday’s crash.
“It’s just not safe,” she said. “I mean people just constantly go high speeds and there’s a section where there’s no barrier whatsoever.”
“She was fairly young,” Ford added. “It could have been me.”
Ford doesn't feel comfortable driving on SR 18 because she's seen several accidents here.
“You constantly would hear firetrucks,” she said.
This stretch of the highway is something KOMO News has been reporting on for quite some time.
Back in June of 2019, KOMO News spoke with Snoqualmie Casino after they started a shuttle service to transport their employees because they said they lost four workers over the previous five years due to accidents on SR 18.
“It’d be nice to get the road fixed but there’s a lot of other roads that need to be fixed, too,” said Chris Niles, who lives near SR 18.
Chris Niles says he understands that some people may find SR 18 dangerous but he says often people are to blame for accidents, not the road.
“You’re getting way more traffic on there and all of sudden everyone’s got their cell phone. You can drive there any time and see someone [texting and playing with their phone],” Niles said.
